Energy

Energy prices have risen eight times faster than average earnings over the last three years, Citizens Advice says.

Co-operative Energy is reducing its price hike from 4.5% to 2.5% in response to expectations the Government will reduce green taxes on energy bills.

2.4 million EDF customers will be hit with gas and electricity price hikes of 3.9% from 3 January, after it became the fifth of the big six energy firms to announce a rise.

Energy, mobile phone, credit card and current account providers may be forced to give customers the information they hold on them in future, so consumers can use the details to make better decisions about cutting costs and managing money.

Most people aged over 61 are entitled to up to £300 from the Government to help cover the cost of energy bills this winter.

Switching energy supplier shouldn't take five weeks, the Government said today as it pressed providers for 24-hour switching.

Energy giant EDF has pledged not to hike prices before the end of the year, as power bosses were grilled about price hikes by a committee of MPs.

The Government is to launch a "proper competition test" to establish whether the energy market can be made more competitive, David Cameron has said.

About 190,000 Scottish Power customers will each be paid a share of £8.5 million, after Ofgem found the energy giant guilty of mis-selling.