British Gas says it will no longer roll customers onto standard variable tariffs (SVTs) from next April – signalling the beginning of the end for the controversial energy bills.
The country’s largest household energy supplier said it was to phase them out as part of a number of “big steps” aimed at transforming the market to give customers a “fairer, simpler deal and lower bills”.
It announced the shift as the Government moves to introduce price caps on SVTs – a default tariff used by 50% of homes which have been described by the Prime Minister as a “rip-off”.
Video: Why not just ban default tariffs?
British Gas currently has five million such customers on its books.
it said it was to remove tariffs without an end date to new customers for the spring – offering a series of fixed deals instead.
But, crucially, it said those customers currently on an SVT still had to decide to exit that rolling default charge in favour of a new fixed tariff.
The firm, part of the so-called ‘big six’ players, said it was already contacting all its SVT customers at least twice a year in a bid to bolster switching – with 10% persuaded to change tariff this year.
The company said it remained legally obliged to offer a default charge to customers who refused to engage at the end of a contract period and that would be a fixed rate charge limited to 12 months.
Video: Price cap on household energy bills unlikely this year
Its other proposals included taking the cost of Government green initiatives out of energy bills and placing them in the tax system instead and simpler bills.
Chief executive of British Gas parent firm Centrica, Iain Conn, said: “We fully recognise that the energy market can and should be improved, but further price controls will only set this back.
“We believe more action is needed and are ready to play a leading role. Today we have set out the unilateral actions we will take to improve the UK energy market for our customers.
“This starts with the withdrawal of the SVT which contributes to lower levels of customer engagement.
“We also believe that further measures by Ofgem and the Government are required so that together we can create a market that works for everyone, where there is improved transparency and a fairer allocation of costs currently included in the energy bill.”
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Source: Sky