ECOTRICITY has been ranked number one for customer service in the energy industry, according to a new ratings system launched by Citizens Advice today.

The online tool allows people to compare energy companies’ customer service based on handling of complaints, ease of contact, bill clarity and ease of switching.

Founder of Ecotricity, Dale Vince, said: “Firstly, it’s great to be ranked number one – we put a huge amount of effort into making our customer service the best in the industry and it’s improving further as we develop our app and online services.

“It’s also great to see an organisation like Citizens Advice pull together a ratings system that’s about more than just price – comparison sites and the media seem to only focus on price but that’s just part of the story.

“We think there are three things that people look out for – greenness, customer service and price. The order will depend on the individual – but comparison sites should help people compare energy companies across all three of those areas.

“In our experience, a growing number of people are looking for a green outcome from their energy spending – increasingly so as our government seems to have abandoned the green agenda and turned instead to fracking and nuclear.

“And it’s no coincidence that greenness and good customer service go hand in hand either; both are the result of being driven by ethics – not the bottom line.”

The new Citizens Advice customer service tool uses a star rating system from one to five in each category.

The criteria (as stated above) were developed by Citizens Advice using research carried out with customers who were asked what they valued most from their energy supplier.

The tool will be updated quarterly with the latest information and star rating.