Minister says lower tariffs plan ‘all about detail’

Energy minister Greg Barker has said the prime minister outlined "the intent, not the detail" of a plan to get energy customers on the cheapest tariff in parliament earlier this month.

David Cameron recently stated at prime minister's questions that new legislation would force energy firms to put customers on their cheapest deal, but Mr Barker did not confirm new laws are on the way.

Instead, he told the House of Commons' Energy Committee it would be "desirable" to use a law change to bring about a better deal for consumers.

Speaking to the same group of MPs, Andrew Wright, Ofgem's senior partner for markets suggested this may not be necessary, as the regulator has its own idea to help consumers by forcing energy firms to highlight any cheaper deals available on bills.

Consumers struggling to maintain debt repayments while also meeting regular bills may be getting increasingly desperate for some relief from the rising cost of energy.

A study by uSwitch last week concluded that the typical energy bill will rise by £90 over the course of this coming winter, with another 314,000 plunged into fuel poverty.

By Joe White