Gordon Calls For Tougher Regulation - Energy Firms
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Gordon who is a Shadow Minister for Business has launched a campaign in Blackpool calling for tougher regulation of energy companies and value for money within the service.
The campaign comes after energy companies have planned to hike up their prices - including British Gas increasing their Gas prices by 18% and Electricity prices by 16% from Thursday 18th August 2011 hitting 9 million households nationwide. This is happening when people in Blackpool are suffering from salary reductions or freezes, increasing oil prices and the cost of food shooting up.
Gordon has blasted the energy companies’ decision, ‘Just as the British Gas owner Centrica has announced profits of £1.3bn and other energy companies are paying their Executives over £2m in bonuses they have decided to impose this excessive and uncompromising hike when people in Blackpool are really feeling financially squeezed.
‘In times of economic difficulty we must make sure that there is strong regulation of companies that make such a large profit out of vital services. Energy price increases from various companies are all highly above inflation and I want Ofcom to have more power to hold these companies to account and ensure the customer is getting value for money.’
‘Energy companies need to have more of a focus on their customers – British Gas have recently been fined by Ofgem for failing their customers and forced to end doorstep cold calling which has led to many people to switching to a worse deal. However we need to know that these companies are going to take steps to improve their service for their customers when action is taken against them.’
‘It is vital that a good proportion of profit energy companies make is reinvested into the company to improve the skills of their workforce introducing more training by extending renewable energy in order to meet their targets. I will be working as a Shadow Business Minister with my colleague Meg Hillier in the Shadow Business team to ensure that companies are improving their services and reinvesting profits to create jobs and improve customer service.’
Gordon’s Video Diary: http://www.youtube.com/user/PattisonIJ?feature=mhee#p/a/u/0/hMkRHGMdEf4
