OFGEM’S crackdown on energy firms’ customer service standards is not enough to deal with the problems faced by struggling households, campaigners warned today.

The regulator has announced new rules on energy firms, requiring them to contact customers if they miss two monthly or one quarterly payment, check to see if they are struggling with bills, and offer support such as affordable payment plans or repayment holidays.

Gillian Cooper, head of energy policy at Citizens Advice, said: “Aggressive debt collection by energy suppliers can make a difficult situation so much worse for struggling households.