SIR - British Gas recently said it was raising gas charges by 12.4 per cent.

Actually, that happened three years ago, then a series of increases and now the latest 15 per cent.

However, we all have to have low pay rises because we don't want to fuel inflation. Of course, we have Energywatch to monitor the prices - a government-funded quango with a budget for 2007/8 of £15.1 million. So what is the purpose of this organisation?

We are being exploted by the privatised utility companies and the have to pay another £15 million to be exploited again.

RICHARD BIRD, Worcester