25% rise in utility bill complaints

COMPLAINTS from gas and electricity customers have surged more than 25%, according to consumer watchdog Energywatch.

The total in the past year was 110,000 compared with 87,000 a year earlier.

'We remain deeply concerned about the scale of the problems consumers face when dealing with their energy companies,' said Ann Robinson, who heads the organisation.

Complaints over accounts and billing were up 25% to 45,546 while gripes over delays in transferring suppliers rose 13% to 34,027. Claims of mis-selling rose 85% to 12,960.

But Energywatch was also concerned by dissatisfaction among small businesses.

Robinson said: 'The small business sector is extremely vulnerable at the best of times. Having to deal with complex contractual arrangements with an energy supplier diverts attention away from managing their business. Ten thousand businesses came to us with problems over the past year - a massive increase on the previous year.'