THE Big Six energy suppliers have been accused of "profit grabbing" as figures showed their earnings have multiplied five-fold to more than £1 billion since 2009.
ScottishPower, Perth-based SSE, British Gas, E.ON, EDF, and npower pocketed among them an average of £53 profit per home last year, representing a margin of 4.3%, up from £30, or 2.8%, in 2011.
Ofgem, the industry regulator, said they recorded combined underlying earnings, before interest payments and tax, of £1.19 billion in 2012, up from £221 million in 2009.
One leading charity has urged the UK Government to tackle the issue now "as people should not have to think about choosing between eating and heating".
Today, Ofgem chief executive Andrew Wright is due to appear before the Commons Energy Select Committee as suppliers continue to blame rising wholesale energy prices, higher distribution costs and UK green levies for the increases.
Labour have pledged a freeze on tariffs if they gain power. The Coalition Government is widely expected to announce changes to the way it levies charges on bills to pay for energy efficiency measures.
Katrina Coutts, of Age Scotland, said: "More than 55% of single pensioner households are fuel poor and pensioner households remain the most vulnerable to fuel poverty.
"In addition to bringing these companies into line it must use the money it collects in carbon taxes to make their homes super-energy efficient, helping to lift people out of fuel poverty for good.
"That energy firms are watching their profits rise, while an increasing number of older people are forced into a position where they aren't adequately heating their homes for fear of the cost, seems to sum up the attitude of today's energy market."
Audrey Gallacher, of Consumer Futures, a statutory organisation created through the merger of energywatch, Postwatch and the National Consumer Council, said: "The increase in supplier profits contrasts with declining affordability. The sector is riding out tough economic times better than its customers are, so there's a pressing need to help the latter."
Tom Greatrex MP, Scottish Labour's energy spokesman, said: "These latest figures show why Labour's price freeze is needed. Labour's price freeze will save Scotland £500m and our plans to reset the market will deliver fairer prices in the future."
A spokesman for Energy Secretary Fergus Ewing said: "A Yes vote next year will put this policy in Scotland's hands, and we are committed to cutting all domestic energy bills in an independent Scotland by 5%, equivalent to a £70 saving per household."
Ofgem said the rise in profits in 2012 was also partly explained by higher gas consumption during a period which was colder than average, compared to 2011, which had been warmer.
The report showed that, from 2009, a number of loss-making domestic suppliers had moved from loss to profitability, as prices had "increased significantly".
The report added: "It is not yet possible to assess whether this is a sustained trend or the result of unusual weather over the past three years."
Energy UK, which represents the energy industry, said the figures did not take into account the costs of "huge investment" being made by energy companies and used profits calculated before interest payments and tax were deducted.
A Department of Energy and Climate Change spokesman said: "Profits are a matter for energy companies to justify to their customers and shareholders, but profits are needed if they are to continue to invest in Britain's energy security and infrastructure. The Government is introducing more competition and more transparency in the energy market so that consumers get the best deal and have a clearer picture about where their money is going."
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