Members of Parliament from all major parties have rallied together to call on the government to take action and stop “unfair practices” by energy companies, according to the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS).
A dozen MPs have already spoken out in favour of the campaign. The latest MP to add her support, Liberal Democrat MP Lorely Burt, said: “Energy companies continue to take advantage of small businesses at a time when energy costs are spiralling and competition in the market is failing to work effectively. This is harming the ability of small businesses to grow, invest and create jobs.
“Energy companies have failed to put their house in order and it’s time for regulators to take action from Ofgem. I am pleased to support ACS’s campaign and I have written to Ofgem calling on them to take immediate action.”
The ACS Switch to Fair Energy campaign was launched to highlight the problems that local shops have faced with their energy companies. Retailers have been subject to rollover contracts, unfair terms and backdated bills costing thousands of pounds – often at no fault of their own.
ACS chief executive, James Lowman, said: “The groundswell of support from MPs on both sides of the house sends a clear message to energy secretary Ed Davey and to Ofgem that action needs to be taken to stop these abuses occurring.”
The MPs that have supported the campaign so far are: Henry Smith, MP for Crawley (Conservative); Iain McKenzie, MP for Inverclyde (Scottish Labour); Grahame Morris, MP for Easington (Labour); Jim Cunningham, MP for Coventry South (Labour); Teresa Pearce, MP for Erith & Thamesmead (Labour); Alex Cunningham, MP for Stockton North (Labour); Marcus Jones, MP for Nuneaton (Conservative); Yasmin Qureshi, MP for Bolton South East (Labour); Lisa Nandy, MP for Wigan (Labour); Sir Alan Beith, MP for Berwick upon Tweed (Liberal Democrat); Simon Danczuk, MP for Rochdale (Labour); and Lorely Burt, MP for Solihull (Liberal Democrats).
Source: ACS
