July 2014
Featured in this insight: Electricity, Financial services, Gas
Study shows many consumers do not trust energy suppliers: A large-scale study, conducted for Smart Meter Central Delivery Body (SMCDB), has found that many Britons do not trust their energy supplier and feel under-informed when it comes to tariff and supplier details.
The poll, which surveyed 10,033 British adults earlier this year, discovered that over half (51%) of those questioned do not trust any energy supplier – this figure rose slightly (57%) for those who live in fuel poverty or with a disability.
Almost two fifths (37%) said they were concerned that their energy bills might not be accurate; with 41% anxious they could be paying for more energy than they actually use – indicating evident levels of mistrust.
One tenth of those polled admitted they do not know how much they pay for their energy, and two thirds (36%) conceded to not actually understanding their bill when it arrives.
More than two fifths of respondents said they do not feel as though they have enough information to adequately choose the correct tariff for themselves, with a similar proportion lacking confidence when it comes to the information available for selecting the right supplier.
Over two fifths (44%) said they would be interested in having a smart meter installed in their homes.
Sacha Deshmukh, chief executive of SMCDB, said: “Antiquated systems for recording energy use and managing billing are no longer fit for purpose.”
Deshmukh added that householders needed to be able to “take control” of their energy use to create “empowered consumers.”
View more of our sector specific insights: Electricity, Financial services, Gas
