ENERGY watchdog Ofgem and the Charity Commission launched investigations into yesterday into claims that Age UK has been pushing expensive energy tariffs to the elderly in exchange for cash.

The Sun newspaper claimed that energy giant Eon has been paying £6 million a year to the charity and getting promotion for higher rate tariffs in return.

It claimed that the tariff recommended by the charity, on average, costs pensioners £245 more than they would pay on Eon’s cheapest deal.