Grant Shapps warns energy firms not to hike bills of customers cutting use

Business secretary ‘disturbed’ by reports Britons being overcharged

Some customers have seen bills go up hundreds of pounds, even when unit price has not changed (PA)

Business secretary Grant Shapps has written to energy suppliers to warn them not overcharge customers making “huge efforts” to cut their usage.

The cabinet minister said he was “disturbed” at reports that some customers had seen a huge spike in direct debit charges despite cutting back on the amount of gas and electricity.

Mr Shapps urged the utility giants to reflect what homes are actually using in their prices, as hard-pressed families struggle to pay bills struggling during the cost of living crisis.