Fab Four? Not when it comes to energy bills

Britain's energy companies will be forced to offer only four tariff options each for electricity and for gas. Customers stuck on “dead” tariffs, where the original deal has ended, will be moved on to their supplier’s cheapest ­variable deal.

It is supposed to make things more clear, simple and fair. Prime Minister David Cameron made a personal pledge in the autumn to force energy companies to offer consumers their lowest tariffs - today's announcement is meant to make that happen.

Yet it has been called "hugely disappointing" and "fundamentally flawed" by consumer group Which? So what is the problem?

Suppliers will use a new 'Tariff Comparison Rate' (TCR) which is designed to simplify the selection process for consumers. But Which? thinks that will make things more baffling. They want things to be simpler - rather like a petrol forecourt price sign. The energy switching firm U-Switch also thinks the TCR will cause even more confusion.

Meanwhile the UK energy watchdog Ofgem insists "the reforms will tackle problems of widespread consumer confusion over energy tariffs, poor supplier behaviour and lack of transparency which is stifling competition".

What may surprise customers is that the regulator can come with all sorts of plans like this - yet it has not been given powers to regulate prices. And let's face it - the layout of a bill may be significant, but what most of us care about is the figure at the bottom of the page.