Foreign Energy Firms Charge Brits

Foreign energy companies are "picking the pockets" of British households to subsidise customers in their own countries, according to the Government's new consumer watchdog. Homeowners are subsidising foreign customers Ed Mayo, head of the Consumer Focus Group, said a lack of competition in European energy markets meant millions of UK families were being ripped off. French owned firm EDF raised prices last month - meaning its 5.5m UK customers would have to pay an extra 22% on their energy bills. However, across the channel the energy giant has been forced to cap increases for French customers at just 5%. Mr Mayo told the Daily Telegraph: "Closed and protectionist European energy markets end up picking the pockets of consumers in this country." More than 11m UK households have their power supplied by foreign-owned companies... [read full story]