UK energy industry watchdog Energywatch has welcomed the announcement by The Utilities Intermediaries Association that British Gas Business has become the first major supplier to join the association as an ancillary member.

<p>Energywatch has been calling for greater consistency, transparency and fairness where third-party brokers and agents sell to business consumers on behalf of energy suppliers and British Gas Business&#0039; involvement with the The Utilities Intermediaries Association (UIA) will aid the achievement of these goals.<br /><br />Commenting on the announcement, Adam Scorer, Energywatch&#0039;s director of campaigns, said: Businesses, and particularly small businesses, have no protection at all against the aggressive and misleading tactics adopted by agents selling on behalf of some suppliers, and can end up paying through the nose.<br /><br />Business consumers have a right to expect some basic standards of integrity and consistency when approached by brokers and agents. We look forward to the suppliers and the UIA moving decisively to protect the interests of small businesses.</p>