THE “big six” energy companies should be investigated by the Government, a Bolton MP has claimed.

Bolton South East MP Yasmin Qureshi, pictured, has added her name to the “End the Big Six Energy Fix” campaign aimed at ending high profits taken by British Gas, EDF, E.ON, npower, Scottish Power and Scottish and Southern Energy, after it was revealed in the first six months of 2011, they posted profits of around £3.5 billion.

Adding her name to a house of Commons Early Day Motion, Ms. Qureshi said: “The Government needs to tackle the predatory behaviour of the big energy companies by introducing a new windfall levy on their profits with revenues used to ensure every home is insulated and highly energy efficient.

“I’m urging Ofgem to reintroduce a cap on prices to prevent energy companies from passing the cost of any levy on to customers. We need the Big Six to have fairer prices for energy and stop ripping off their customers.”

In October, 2011, Ofgem revealed profit margins for the energy suppliers increased by 733 per cent in some circumstances, while at the same time average household bills have doubled in the past six years from around £600 a year in 2004 to more than £1,200 a year today. It is estimated the UK now has some 5.5 million households in fuel poverty, causing an estimated 3,000 premature winter deaths.