NOTIFICATION OF PRICE CHANGES BY ENERGY COMPANIES

That this House notes that energy companies have 65 working days to inform their customers of a price rise after that price rise has taken place; further notes that customers have only 20 days to switch after being informed; further notes that research from Which? shows that 98 per cent. of people want their supplier to notify them ahead of price rises; further notes that the relevant licence condition was only implemented in 2006 and that previously suppliers were required to provide notification within 10 days; acknowledges Ofgem's statement that this is an issue of concern and their pledge to ask its consumer panel to consider the issue; but calls on the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change to be more proactive and require Ofgem to change the relevant licence condition to ensure that energy suppliers inform their customers in advance of a price rise.