EDF backs Martin Lewis’s calls for cheaper energy tariffs for struggling families

Energy supplier has voiced its support for calls to introduce cheaper tariffs for struggling families, as households across the UK face rising energy bills amid continued volatility in global gas prices.

The consumer champion and financial adviser, Martin Lewis, has long campaigned for reforms to protect vulnerable consumers from ever-increasing energy costs. With predictions that energy price cap could rise by 3% to 6% on April 1, 2025, bringing typical annual energy bills to as much as £1,847, Mr Lewis has urged the Government and regulators to act more decisively.

In a new post on Mr Lewis addressed concerns about corporate greed in the energy sector, emphasising that while energy firms are profit-driven entities, the responsibility for keeping prices affordable lies with regulators like Ofgem and the Government.

He argued that the current price cap system is fundamentally flawed, as it allows firms to charge the maximum amount without encouraging them to offer cheaper deals to consumers. He also called for a social tariff, which would provide targeted support to those who need it most.

Mr Lewis said: “An energy firm’s job isn’t to keep our prices low; it’s to make money for their shareholders, a responsibility we shifted onto them during privatisation.

“As it stands, it’s the regulator Ofgem and Government whose job is to protect consumers from overly high prices. And that’s where the issues lie. The price cap isn’t set by firms, they aren’t increasing it, it’s set by the regulator. It’s a turgid system (that was pushed on the regulator by a past govt) and it’s allowed firms to price to the max of the cap without pushing them hard enough to offer cheaper deals.” (SIC)

He added: “We need a social tariff!”

EDF, one of the UK’s largest energy providers, backed Mr Lewis’s assessment, highlighting a 30% surge in wholesale gas and electricity prices since mid-December, driven by geopolitical uncertainties, including the conflict and Russian gas sanctions.

Rich Hughes, director of Retail at EDF, expressed concern about the rising costs faced by consumers, particularly with household budgets already stretched thin. He said: “We’re working hard to keep our tariff prices as low as possible and recently launched a tracker tariff £100 below the cap.

“However, this exposure to ongoing volatility emphasises the need for a long-term, meaningful solution on affordability, and we agree with Martin Lewis that a social tariff is still urgently needed to help those who need it most.”

Social tariffs are designed to provide cheaper deals for low-income and vulnerable households. They are currently available for services such as broadband, mobile, and

The looming April rise in the price cap adds to a growing financial burden on households. New research from the Energy Insight Team at customer service specialist, found 41.1% of billpayers are concerned about falling into energy debt in the next 12 months – or already in it.

Gill Marchbank, CEO at ResQ, said: “The data is clear; many billpayers are worried or already struggling to pay their energy bills and expect to receive support and empathy from their providers. But what many are experiencing is a customer-compassion rift, with some providers failing to identify the personal impacts of poor customer care – as well as the commercial incentives behind providing the right support.

“Ultimately, energy is a household necessity, and there is a real person or family behind every bill paid. Talking about finances can be particularly sensitive, and discussing things like debt can evoke feelings of fear or shame for some customers. Treating the person at the end of the phone, email, or chatbot with compassion and emphasizing that there are resources there for them to find a way out is key.”