The demise of energywatch in October will leave small firms with no one to turn to for help on utility matters, it has been claimed.
According to John Holbrow, environment and energy chairman for the Federation of Small Businesses, the work of the body is unlikely to be picked up by Consumer Direct and this could leave firms vulnerable.
He said: "The government has so far failed to ensure that there is an effective alternative in place.
"With Consumer Direct seemingly uninterested, come October there will be thousands of small business owners with nowhere to turn for help when their energy companies take them for a ride."
A survey by the FSB has found that 57 per cent of business owners have made a complaint to their energy company and only half of these are being dealt with in a satisfactory manner.
Yesterday, Raymond McGloin, head of business sales at npower, stated small firms can cut their bills by doing things like switching to energy saving light bulbs and turning equipment off when not in use.
