Lowest tariffs call for energy customers Energy suppliers will have to tell customers about the cheapest tariff they have on offer under sweeping reforms put forward by the industry regulator on Friday. Ofgem said it was extending its proposals to reform Britain's retail market following consultations on how to simplify tariff structures and clamp down on poor supplier behaviour. The regulator said it would also work with suppliers to trial a proposal to provide vulnerable customers and those who have not switched for a long time with information about the cheapest market deal. "Our plans will put an end to consumers being confused by complex tariffs and will usher in a simpler, clearer, fairer and more competitive energy market for all consumers," said Alistair Buchanan, Ofgem chief executive. The proposals go further than the industry expected but stop short of prime minister David Cameron's plan to force companies to put customers on their lowest tariff. Mr Cameron's remarks on Wednesday that the government would legislate on this threw the energy market into disarray. It emerged that ministers and officials in the energy department had not known about the plans. Downing Street on Thursday eventually tried to end the chaos by promising to legislate to ensure more customers ended up on lower, if not the very lowest, tariffs. Ofgem said on Friday the two "updated" elements of its package "reflected consumer research" it had received. Consumers wanted clearer information about their bills and to have this presented in terms of choice, a spokesperson said. Suppliers will have to tell each customer about the cheapest offer available to them based on how they pay their bill, whether by direct debit, pre-payment or credit. Customers will also default to the cheapest option at the end of fixed-term contracts. "I am glad to say suppliers have already responded with some initiatives, but these don't go far enough," Mr Buchanan said. Ofgem is determined to press forward with proposals to deliver for consumers the most far-reaching shake-up of the retail energy market since competition was introduced.