New regulations imposed by Ofgem’s Retail Market Review (RMR), limit suppliers to four core tariffs per fuel, per payment type, per meter type, and SSE is “continuing to make the regulatory changes required to tariffs to ensure they are RMR compliant.”
Some customers, who have their tariff from Atlantic – one of SSE’s retail brands – are reportedly being offered new tariffs up to £100 a year more than their existing – and outgoing – deal.
In a statement, SSE said: “The impact of all the forthcoming regulatory change will affect customers differently, some will be better off and unfortunately others will be worse off,” adding that consumers should benefit in the long term from having a “simpler, more accessible market”.
The shadow energy secretary, Caroline Flint, has blamed David Cameron’s “cack-handed” reforms, which he announced last October, saying they have “backfired”.
She added: “He promised to force the energy companies to put everyone on the cheapest tariffs – but now it looks like thousands of people will be paying more than they were before.
“Instead of tinkering with tariffs and telling people to shop around, David Cameron should stand up to the energy companies and get behind Labour’s plans to put an end to rip-off bills.”
However, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc) has said that overall, the RMR reforms will create a “fairer and more efficient energy market”.
In a statement, Decc said: “we must strike a balance between ensuring all consumers are on the cheapest tariff for them, and maintaining competitive pressure on suppliers to compete and innovate to offer attractive deals to consumers.”