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Article

28 Nov 2013

Author:
Jennifer Rankin, Guardian (UK)

Energy firms' profit from customers has risen 77% in a year, says Ofgem (UK)

The big six energy firms have been exposed to further accusations of profiteering after the industry regulator revealed that profits per customer last year rose by 77%. On the eve of a protest by anti-poverty campaigners against power suppliers, Ofgem said the profit per household had risen from £30 in 2011 to £53, driven by higher prices and increased demand for heating during last year's winter..."Any profit margin at a time when people are dying because they cannot afford to turn their heating on is unacceptable," said...Fuel Poverty Action group, which will mark the publication of the latest winter mortality figures...with a protest at RWE npower's headquarters...The big six – British Gas, npower, SSE, Scottish Power, E.ON and EDF – argue that their industry is misunderstood and higher bills are the inevitable consequence of external factors such as green levies passed on by the government, higher wholesale prices and increased power transmission costs. However, the industry's trade body admitted...that the big six had become a "lightning conductor for the general concern about the cost of living."