Heating bills 'confuse parents'

Energy companies must do more to help families understand their heating bills, research suggests.

Many parents are worried about the cost of heating their home and a significant proportion do not fully understand how their bills are calculated, according to a study by E.ON and Mumsnet.

The poll indicates that one in five mums does not open or look at their energy bills, with almost a quarter of these saying they find the bills too confusing to read.

The survey found that there is a widespread lack of understanding among customers about the variety of energy tariffs available.

Two thirds of mums said they did not understand the differences between the various tariffs on offer, while one in 10 did not realise that their provider offered different tariffs.

Overall, one third of mums do not fully understand their energy bills, according to the research.

The survey also found that three quarters of mums were worried about the cost of central heating even before this winter's cold snap set in.

E.ON's director of regulation and energy policy, Sara Vaughan, said: "As a mum myself, I understand how important it is to know where the family income is going.

"Energy companies really need to be able to help families understand their energy bills so we can all be sure we're using energy in the most affordable way we can."

< Previous Page

Supplier Login