Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are more vulnerable to exploitation by energy suppliers than domestic customers, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has argued.

According to the lobby group, energy companies are failing to provide UK firms with a ‘fair and transparent service.’

The BCC is now calling on the energy regulator, Ofgem, to address the inconsistencies in the service supplied to businesses and domestic consumers.

One of the ‘unfair practices’ identified by the BCC relates to the rules on energy pricing – unlike domestic suppliers, business energy providers are under no obligation to publish their tariffs.

The BCC also claimed it was unreasonable that domestic energy users are entitled to a ‘cooling off’ period for verbal contracts, whilst such agreements are immediately binding for enterprises.

‘With the economy slowing and energy bills on the rise, it is totally unacceptable that hard pressed businesses are left so open to exploitation by energy suppliers,’ said BCC Director General David Frost.

Energywatch receives 32,000 calls every year from businesses seeking help and advice on their energy supplies. The BCC said it feared that this demand would not be met when the energy champion is amalgamated with several other groups on 1 October.