Customers with E.On have been promised that they will not see an increase in residential energy prices this year.
The company is the first of the ‘Big Six’ UK energy suppliers to announce a freeze on gas and electricity prices in 2012 and comes just days after Centrica – the owner of British Gas – warned that bills could increase for customers later this year amid rising wholesale costs.
Dr Tony Cocker, chief executive of E.On UK, said: “We’ve announced we’ll provide peace of mind to just under five million existing domestic customers by promising not to raise residential prices in 2012.”
“This announcement comes after we revealed we made less than 2 per cent profit supplying gas and electricity to UK homes in 2011 and further demonstrates our commitment to be fair and transparent.”
Commenting on the move, Tom Lyon, energy expert at price comparison site uSwitch.com, said: “There is some uncertainty over prices and consumers will be worried about what this might mean for their bills.”
“While SSE has moved to reassure its customers that they will be protected from higher prices at least until the autumn, E.On has gone one step further by promising a price freeze throughout 2012. This is good news for its five million domestic customers.”
