Time for talk with the energy companies must now be over, says
Unite
16 December 2008
As the energy regulator Ofgem announces today (Tuesday) that
households continue to pay too much for fuel, the UK's biggest
union, Unite, says that the time for talking to the energy
companies must now come to an end.
"The time for tough talk at the greedy energy companies is over.
The energy profiteers must not be given yet more time to delay
while hard-pressed households are being told that they must pay sky
high heating costs," said Tony Woodley, joint general secretary of
Unite.
"Energy companies in this country have seen their profits leap
by an incredible 538 per cent in the last five years. That is money
they have used to line shareholders' and executives' pockets, yet
all consumers have had is price pain.
"This continued refusal to pass on the drop in wholesale prices
now as this winter bites means Government now has no other option
but to tax them on their obscene profits. That way £250 can be put
into the pockets of some six million struggling households to help
them pay this year's bills.
"The energy companies have behaved shamefully in recent times
and abused their position as a provider of an everyday essential.
Ofgem and the Government have given them long enough to stop
ripping off the public - only a windfall tax and fuel price capping
can now restore some justice to the one-sided UK energy
market."
ENDS
For further information contact Pauline Doyle on 07976 832
861
