A FRENCH energy firm was accused yesterday of picking the pockets of British families.

 

The row followed the announcement of a French government plan to cap bill increases there at just 2 per cent for electricity and 5 per cent for gas.

 

The decision sparked a furious response from critics in the UK who claim Britons will be subsidising lower energy prices across the Channel.

 

While their French neighbours are protected by energy price caps households in the UK are suffering by record increases.

 

The French-controlled firm EDF Energy last month pushed up UK prices by 22 per cent for gas and 17 per cent for electricity for its 4.5 million customers.

 

That followed its January increases of 7.9 per cent for electricity and 12.9 per cent for gas.

 

It blamed soaring wholesale costs for the increases which add hundreds of pounds to customers’ annual bills.

Meanwhile its state-controlled parent company EDF (Electricite de France) is now preparing minimal price rises for French customers.

 

Liberal Democrat energy spokesman Steve Webb said: “You have the incredibly hands-on French government dramatically capping bills and the British Government fiddling around the edges.”

 

Mr Webb warned that families here could lose out because of the price curbs in France.

 

“You can’t avoid the suspicion that if part of the group is losing profits through a French price cap, that money will be made up from somewhere else.

 

“There is a risk that British EDF customers will end up subsidising their French counterparts,” he said.

 

Ed Mayo, chief executive of new watchdog Consumer Focus, said UK households were forced to pay extra because of the way European gas and electricity markets work.

 

“Closed and protectionist European energy markets end up picking the pockets of consumers up and down this country. It pushes up the cost, there is no doubt about it,” he said.

 

 

Why should UK Energy users foot the bill for the French?

 

Do you think EDF are ripping Britain off?

 

 

Source: Sunday Express

 

I suppose if you feel strongly about this you can always switch supplier, mind you are any of the others any cheaper?

don 't you think this is not a just a French thing, all international companies price their products to what they think every nation will pay, and the people of the UK always seem to end up paying the most

And British Gas (and its BRITISH parent company Centrica..) aren't ripping off people with the outrageous rises announced a few weeks back....? <_<

 

How about instead of printing such bald anti-french sh!te like this, the Sunday Express's time may be better spent criticising our own Govt for NOT doing what the French Govt are - ie, capping energy bills.... Vive La France, their Govt obviously responds to the concerns of THEIR people.... :rolleyes: I may seriously consider moving there, fukk this country.....

 

Oh look, EDF is actually STATE controlled, quelle suprise..... :lol:

And British Gas (and its BRITISH parent company Centrica..) aren't ripping off people with the outrageous rises announced a few weeks back....? <_<

 

How about instead of printing such bald anti-french sh!te like this, the Sunday Express's time may be better spent criticising our own Govt for NOT doing what the French Govt are - ie, capping energy bills.... Vive La France, their Govt obviously responds to the concerns of THEIR people.... :rolleyes: I may seriously consider moving there, fukk this country.....

 

Oh look, EDF is actually STATE controlled, quelle suprise..... :lol:

 

on this, i agree with you scott :)

on this, i agree with you scott :)

 

I might even start taking French classes at some College next academic year..... :lol: :lol: