A Midland politician has joined a campaign aimed at stopping energy suppliers from hitting struggling small businesses with huge gas and electricity bills.

Under current laws, energy firms can send firms invoices for six years’ worth of incorrect bills, even when the mistake was the suppliers’ fault.

Now Solihull MP Lorely Burt is backing the Association of Convenience Store’s fight to reduce the backdating period term to just 12 months to bring it in to line with the rules that apply to domestic customers.

ACS research found 36 per cent of independent retailers across the UK had been overcharged for energy in the past year, while more than one in four had received back-dated bills.

Now the Association has called on energy regulator Ofgem to help bring about the changes to legislation through its Switch to Fair Energy Contract Campaign.

Mrs Burt said: “Energy companies continue to take advantage of small businesses at a time when energy costs are spiralling and competition in the market is failing to work effectively.

“This is harming the ability of small businesses to grow, invest and create jobs.

“Energy companies have failed to put their house in order and it’s time for regulators to take action from Ofgem.

“I am pleased to support ACS’s campaign and I have written to Ofgem calling on them to take immediate action.”

James Lowman, chief executive of ACS, which is the voice for more than 33,500 small businesses in the UK, welcomed Mrs Burt’s help.

He said “We are delighted Lorely is supporting us, we need a strong push to put an end to market practices that harm small retail businesses.

“If we can get the energy market working better then it will have an immediate impact on the costs of thousands of small businesses, allowing them to make investments and create more jobs.”