CAMPAIGNERS have called for an official inquiry into the "obscene" profits being made by energy firms, claiming consumers are being "ripped off."

Unison and the National Right To Fuel Campaign say increases in energy charges to consumers are almost £2.5billion more than the extra costs in producing and selling gas and electricity.

The call comes just a few days after Scottish Gas said it would increase gas and electricity prices by 15%, while Npower and EDF also announced rises of 17% and 8%.

The organisations say companies are passing on wholesale costs straight to consumers, even though many are setting the price themselves.

Ofgem, the industry's regulator, is being urged to launch an immediate inquiry into claims the average family is paying £100 a year to finance a "golden hole" in energy firms' accounts.

Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, said: "It is all very well Ofgem calling for windfall profit taxes in the future, but what is it doing about the current rip-off? We want action now.

"Families are worried about increasing fuel bills, rising housing and food costs, while pensioners are finding it a huge struggle. Their winter fuel payments have been wiped out by these greedy firms."

Lesley Davis, chairman of the National Right To Fuel Campaign, said: "It beggars belief these companies are announcing further increases when we know that, while consumers paid £8.2billion more for gas and electricity in 2006 than they did in 2003, fuel costs rose £4.5bn.

"A significant part of the remainder can be accounted for by companies earning higher profits at the expense of low-income consumers."