Energy companies are trying to build back their reputation, according to the CEO of Energy UK.

At the recent Energy Live 2015 conference, Lawrence Slade told ELN: “I think it’s great we have 31 suppliers in the market and somewhere in the region of quarter of a million to 300,000 households switching every month, so look at the positives – equally though, reputation is very easy to lose and really hard to build back.

“I think we’re now in the situation as an industry where we’re trying to build back that reputation, we’re trying to really look at how we work with customers and how we put the customer first.”

When asked about the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation he said the extension until April was a “good thing”.

He added: “It’s a really important case for the CMA and equally for the industry and the consumer.

“It’s vitally important we get it right and the ultimate remedies put the consumer first but also allow the industry to innovate [and have] the freedom and room to manoeuvre to bring on new products and services which help customers use their energy more effectively.”