A survey commissioned by the BBC has found that almost half of domestic energy users don’t know how their bill is calculated. Although Ofgem has simplified tariff structures in recent years, and limited the number of tariffs suppliers can offer, many still find their energy bills confusing, the survey found. The survey discovered: 51% of consumers have not switched energy … Read More
British Gas unfairly stopped business transfers
The UK’s largest energy supplier will be penalised for not letting customers know their contracts were coming to an end, and even preventing them from switching to alternative suppliers. The energy regulator Ofgem has handed down a massive fine to the Centrica-owned British Gas of £5.6m, after concluding that it had wrongly objected to businesses switching suppliers due to computer … Read More
Big Six to face competition enquiry
The industry regulator Ofgem has called for an inquiry into “possible tacit co-ordination” of price rises by the Big Six. The Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) is being called on by Ofgem to perform the investigation over the next 18 months amid fears that the energy market is not competitive, with price variations between suppliers at a minimum. Suppliers have … Read More
SSE freezes domestic prices until 2016
The freeze will affect 5 million UK households, and will be financed by £100m of cost-cutting measures, including 500 job losses. The UK’s second-largest electricity and gas supplier, Scottish & Southern Energy, has announced the domestic energy sector’s longest ever ‘unconditional price promise’ at 26 months, having last raised its prices in November 2013. The company says the move will … Read More
Ofgem announces TPI Code of Practice
Energy consultants and brokers are to be regulated with a new Code of Practice, enforced by the energy regulator later this year. As part of the ongoing Retail Market Review, Ofgem is placing a license obligation on suppliers to only deal with Third-party intermediaries (TPIs) that are accredited to an industry-governed code of practice. The regulator was granted new powers … Read More
British Gas defends large profit margins
Amid comments from the Energy Secretary Ed Davey, the energy giant owned by Centrica has hit back, claiming it “does more than any other organisation to secure gas and power for British consumers”. The company was responding to a letter written by Mr Davey to regulators yesterday, in which he suggested the possibility of British Gas being “broken up” due … Read More
E.ON to raise energy prices by 3.7%
German-owned energy giant is the last of the Big Six to raise prices this winter. The rise of 3.7% on electricity, and 4.6% on gas equates to around £48 on the average annual bill, and will take effect from January 18. The increase is less than expected, following a reduction on green and social levies by the government which equates … Read More
Big Six lose 150,000 customers
Thousands have switched away from the big six energy companies due to recent price rises. The BBC has reported that domestic customers are moving to smaller suppliers in large numbers. It estimates that 150,000 households have switched to smaller energy companies in recent weeks, even though smaller companies still only account for 3% of the market.
Shale gas extraction to begin in South England
The Energy Minister says fracking will begin “right across the south”. A study will soon be published, declaring that fracking for shale gas poses no danger of contaminating water in the UK, the Energy Minister Michael Fallon has said. Places such as Wiltshire, Hampshire, Surrey and Sussex could become bases for shale gas extraction sites.
EDF announce smallest price rise of Big Six
The french-owned energy giant is only raising prices by an average of 3.9%, less than half that of other major suppliers. The increase will come into force from January 3, and looks like a serious attempt by the firm to actually compete with rivals. The move will affect 2.4 million households, but EDF has warned that green levies must be … Read More