Energy price 'hotspots' where suppliers charge loyal customers more because they 'get away with it'

[Ghost of Huey Long]

Consumers in poorer parts of Britain are being hit with higher energy bills, a study has found.
Experts suggest that providers will charge what people will pay, so prices could be up to £92 higher per year where loyal customers stick with their suppliers no matter what the charge. Paradoxically, these tend to be areas where incomes are lower.

Merseyside and North Wales pay most, with a typical annual bill of £1,373, research by price comparison found.
Energyhelpline director Mark Todd said: 'It is difficult to explain the reasoning behind these regional price variations other than the fact that regional suppliers charge what they think they can get away with. 'It's a cruel irony that the areas being landed with the highest bills are the ones where cash is most strapped and where people are struggling to find employment,' Todd added.


Todd said: 'We expect to see energy price increases later this year, so it will be interesting to see what impact this will have on the postcode lottery across the UK. It is likely that the gulf between energy prices will continue to grow.
'This postcode lottery places extra strain on squeezed budgets and could throw more people into fuel poverty.
'Our latest quarterly price survey shows that there has been no let-up for those hit with the highest prices.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/bills/article-2162713/Energy-price-hotspots-suppliers-charge-loyal-customers-away-it.html#ixzz1yXfi3m6T

[Ghost of Huey Long]

1. I'm so grateful we live in a country where we know we can trust our energy suppliers

I read that England recently forced all residents to get 'smart meters' like they did in the US.