Some might think a much-mooted competition inquiry into the energy sector is not needed after listening to Phil Bentley, the chief executive of British Gas, pleading for customer forgiveness via Newsnight.
There was almost the feel of a truth and reconciliation commission – with Paxman presiding – as the energy man admitted his company "had not made it easy for customers".
British Gas was determined to put this right, Bentley insisted. "It is clear that we need to make things better for our customers. To make sure we do that, I am committed to having an honest conversation with [them]" said the boss, presumably hoping not to touch on his £1m salary.
It was only a few days ago that another of the big six energy firms, E.ON, promised to "reset" its relationship with customers through a huge review that would look at tariffs, bills, and how it sells its products.
EDF's boss, Vincent de Rivaz, has also accepted that customer trust has been lost and he himself accepted the idea that a competition probe might be the only way to clear the air.
It reassuring that some inside the big six accept they have driven their own train off the rails, but not everyone thinks so. Some executives still do not quite get it, and prefer to blame the poor public standing of the energy sector on politicians, the media or just the hardships of being in a world where global energy prices are rising fast.
So have British Gas, E.ON and others done enough to make people feel differently? They have made a start, but they still need to make a clean breast of all the issues – from doorstep mis-selling all the way through to self-interested pricing policies. And they need to prove to the regulator they are not using their "vertical integration" and dominant market position to keep up bills and kill off smaller competitors.
Even then, the customer will only trust deeds, not words. And any new commitment to social responsibility by the companies must be demonstrated at a time of rising future wholesale prices, heavier environmental costs, volatile coalition energy politics – never mind the need for huge infrastructure investments. The big six have got a mountain to climb – with slippery boots.