Energy

A wider roll-out of switchable smart meters is in danger of being delayed AGAIN, after the Government announced it's considering extending the deadline by which companies must stop installing first generation smart meters.

SSE has paid £665,000 in compensation after taking almost six months to switch customers on to a new tariff, following the end of its 'white label' partnership with Ebico.

Small energy supplier Iresa is still banned from taking on new customers, increasing direct debits and asking for one-off payments after the regulator found it had failed to make enough improvements.

Scores of customers of Toto Energy have vented their anger over its 'hopeless service' with many reporting serious failings by the small energy supplier.

Energy supplier Outfox the Market has announced a hike to its two variable rate tariffs with 25,000 customers to see the rise in August.

E.on is to increase average dual-fuel prices for around 1.8 million customers on its standard tariff by 4.8% in August - just months after it hit them with a backdoor price hike by scrapping a number of discounts.

British Gas, Ovo Energy and Utility Warehouse forcibly installed many more prepayment meters than their competitors, the energy regulator has found - and all suppliers have been warned this tactic must be a last resort to recover debt.

EDF has been told to pay £350,000 for missing its smart meter target by three weeks.

Smaller energy suppliers will soon have to pay vulnerable customers the Warm Home Discount which is worth £140 a year.

First Utility is the latest energy supplier to hike its standard variable tariff - with a 5.9% increase set to hit on Monday 23 July, adding £67 a year to a typical household bill.