Ofgem

The energy regulator has put back plans to introduce a 'switching database', which would allow suppliers to contact rival firms' customers on the most expensive standard variable energy tariffs and offer them a cheaper deal.

Energy suppliers won't be able to claw back cash from customers for energy used more than 12 months ago under new proposals by Ofgem to rein in 'back-billing'.

Millions of SSE customers on its standard tariff will see their energy bills jump from 28 April – the firm's hiking electricity prices by 14.9% and keeping gas prices steady, meaning those on a dual fuel tariff face an average 6.9% rise.

The regulator Ofgem is urgently contacting a number of major energy suppliers about their exit fee policies, after a MoneySavingExpert.com investigation revealed many customers with fixes ending have been wrongly told they'll have to pay to switch.

Energy customers switched suppliers at the highest rate in six years in 2016, regulator Ofgem has confirmed, with 7.7 million such moves taking place.

British Gas is to launch a customer rewards scheme from April that will include Sky TV deals and energy discounts for its longest-standing customers. However, it's not yet clear what the savings will be, so you should continue to keep an eye out for cheap deals available elsewhere.

Energy customers could be given more protection if proposals by regulator Ofgem to introduce additional stress-testing to reduce the chances of suppliers collapsing are acted on later this year.

The levels at which a temporary prepayment price cap that's expected to help four million households save about £80/year have been set by energy regulator Ofgem.

Regulator Ofgem is pushing ahead with plans to encourage customers to find the best energy deals, with a series of trials taking place that will include forcing suppliers to reveal cheaper tariffs offered by rivals.

Energy customers are still being given incorrect info about the switching process by big six firms, six weeks after MoneySavingExpert.com revealed suppliers had been wrongly telling those coming to the end of a fixed-term contract they'll have to pay an exit fee to switch provider.