AS an npower customer, I am utterly appalled at the latest energy increases. To be informed by the media, not by npower in writing, shows the contempt with which the German-owned company treats its UK customers.

In 2005 and 2006, npower increased my electricity charges three times. I wrote to npower concerning these increases - the reply was a waste of time.

So I wrote to my MP, John Greenway. This was passed on by John, and a reply was received from Lord Truscott from the Department for Trade and Industry (under Blair's Government).

Its answer was a complete waste of time. All he could say was "shop around". Fair enough, but all companies hike up their prices, so one is no better off shopping around.

Channel 4 News interviewed the UK chairman of npower. He agreed that for the year ending 2007, the company had made a profit of £77 million - yet they were losing money, up to 60 per cent on the wholesale price in the last year.

Last year, when wholesale prices came down, npower only decreased gas, not electricity. This latest increase is disgraceful and unfair. Everyone will suffer, especially the old folk of this country, and people on fixed low incomes.

Do npower care? Do they chuffing hell, so long as they make fat profits. Worst of all, profits go to the German company, not the UK.

Can the Government do anything about this increase? It would appear not, as a plc they can put prices up as they like.

No wonder foreign firms treat this country like "treasure island". The Government should give the old and vulnerable an extra hike in Old Age Pension to help in paying this shameful increase. Can't see it, though.

Tom Mitchell, Mendip Close, Huntington, York.