After intense industry lobbying,the official probe into fuel tariffs imposed by the big six may not offer any relief for overcharged consumersFor consumers there is a more critical competition investigation going on than the banking probe, whose results were unveiled this week. The final report into the big six energy providers, or due out in December,has already been delayed to June next year. The potential outcome – price caps on standard tariffs and a possible break-up of the big six – will be worth the delay, whether that is the remedy planned. Or will the Competition and Markets Authority lose its nerve amid intense industry lobbying and, and as with banking,disappoint us with another underwhelming report?To be unbiased to the CMA, evidence of deep and widespread consumer detriment in the retail banking industry, and outside overdraft charges,is tough to find. But in the energy industry the evidence must be apparent to all but the most unctuous defenders of the power companies.
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Source: theguardian.com