Trust in the energy industry to deliver genuine competition, protect vulnerable consumers, offer clear choices and promote environmental improvements that could be utilised has fallen dramatically among MPs.
A new Ipsos MORI poll found that over the last three years, trust has dwindled.
On balance, MPs are more likely to distrust than trust the energy industry to move as quickly as possible towards more energy-efficient methods (16 per cent trust compared to 36 per cent distrust) and protect consumers from higher prices (three per cent trust, while 79 per cent distrust).
This comes as the last of the big six energy suppliers in the UK - E.ON - will increase its energy prices by over eight per cent from tomorrow (January 18th) just at a time when consumers need more help.
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The greatest decline in trust noted in the survey was in offering genuine competition in energy supply.
In 2009, 23 per cent of MPs trusted the industry, while 54 per cent didn't. However, this changed to just ten per cent of MPs believing they would offer genuine competition, compared to 73 per cent that distrusted this notion.
"This study underlines the critical importance of trust to the energy industry and the way it impacts on the industry's 'licence to operate' in Britain. The energy companies need to keep MPs updated on the various industry initiatives, that are designed to address these issues," said Robert Knight, director at Ipsos MORI Reputation Centre.
Recent research among electricity consumers conducted by Ipsos MORI showed that their views are similar to that of MPs.
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