The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Davey, will announce plans to make energy companies simplify their tariffs at a session of the Energy and Climate Change Committee later today.

Caroline Lucas MP said:

"The government’s decision to accept Ofgem’s recommendation to force energy companies to streamline the hugely complicated system of energy tariffs into four core tariffs is a step in the right direction towards bringing down costs for consumers.

"Tellingly, this is a far more realistic version of David Cameron’s hasty and unworkable pledge – made against the advice of his own energy department last month – to compel energy providers to put all customers on one cheapest tariff.

"However, to really protect consumers from rising prices, the upcoming Energy Bill should include a decarbonisation target to boost investor confidence in renewables and rule out a dash-for-gas which would leave consumers at the mercy of volatile gas prices – as well as making it easier for more independent energy companies generators to enter the market and prioritising energy efficiency."

ENDS