Families are turning their backs on the ‘Big Six’ energy firms

Families are turning their backs on the ‘Big Six’ energy firms in favour of smaller providers, as heating and electricity giants are accused of ‘punishing’ customers with huge bills

  • Several of the Big Six energy firms rated poorly for customer satisfaction 
  • British Gas, SSE, Npower, EDF, Eon and Scottish Power all suffer low approval
  • Npower and Scottish Power were both joint lowest ranked of the Big Six 

The ‘Big Six’ energy firms have been accused of punishing customers with poor service on top of sky high tariffs for heating and lighting.

The companies all sit in the bottom third of a league table looking at customer satisfaction, which covers how they deal with inquiries, value for money, complaints handling and the accuracy of bills. 

The table is based on a survey by the consumer group Which? of some 8,000 people who are signed to 30 companies supplying gas and electricity. 

All of the Big Six energy firms suffer from low customer satisfaction ratings, according to Which?

The six suppliers – British Gas, SSE, Npower, EDF, Eon and Scottish Power – have millions of people on standard variable tariffs that are so high the Government imposed a cap at the start of this month.

But Which? found they are worse in terms of customer satisfaction than new, cheaper, smaller suppliers. None of the Big Six received an overall customer score higher than 58 per cent.

Npower and Scottish Power were joint lowest ranked of the Big Six and received two-star ratings for their complaints handling.

Industry trade body Energy UK argued that the market is working well for householders, with evidence more people are switching supplier.

The six suppliers – British Gas (pictured) SSE, Npower, EDF, Eon and Scottish Power – have millions of people on standard variable tariffs that are so high the Government imposed a cap at the start of this month

The six suppliers – British Gas (pictured) SSE, Npower, EDF, Eon and Scottish Power – have millions of people on standard variable tariffs that are so high the Government imposed a cap at the start of this month

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk