Energy firms 'picking pockets' of Britons

A consumer champion has claimed that Britons are having their "pockets picked" by big European energy firms.

Ed Mayo, chief executive of a new group called Consumer Focus, said: "Protectionist European energy markets end up picking the pockets of consumers here."

The comment comes amid rising concern over increasing fuel bills in the UK.

Critics have claimed that the British are subsidising French consumers through the cross-Channel energy company EDF.

The firm, which has about 5.5 million UK customers, raised prices here by up to 22 per cent.

But in France, its price increases have been capped at 5 per cent leading to fears that it may hike British prices further to compensate.

Mr Mayo said Consumer Focus, which starts work on October 1 would address the issue of why prices are swift to go up but slow to come down.

He said: "We've got that in the mortgage market, and in petrol prices. Oil markets are volatile. Recognising that there are global forces at work, we would like to see prices come down when they can."

The new organisation, formed from a merger of the National Consumer Council, energywatch and Postwatch, will concern itself strongly with those who are suffering because of energy price rises.

It will have a dedicated unit helping people who are vulnerable to disconnection, or who have been disconnected.

Consumer Affairs Minister Gareth Thomas said: "We will want it to look at promoting competition in energy markets for all consumers, but especially for those who are fuel-poor."

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