domestic energy

  • Home supply and services

    The default tariff cap: More questions than answers?

    Throughout the recent period of wholesale and supply market volatility, the government and Ofgem have remained committed to the default tariff cap and continued to highlight its benefits to customers in protecting them from rising energy prices this winter. However, Cornwall Insight’s forecast of the default tariff cap for Summer...

  • Home supply and services

    Over a third of energy suppliers have left the market

    The domestic supplier market is facing a turbulent time with high wholesale prices causing distress and a series of supplier exits in the energy sector. This week's 'Chart of the week' examines these suppliers exits and their effect on the domestic market.

  • Home supply and services

    900,000 domestic customers impacted by SoLR over last two years

    Across 2020 and 2019, 887,000 domestic customers were supplied by a company which exited the market via the Supplier of Last Resort mechanism (SoLR). On average, this is around 1.7% of the market per year. In 2018, 551,000 domestic customers were supplied by a company which entered the Supplier of...

  • Home supply and services

    Chart of the week | SoLR process sees largest supplier exit

    This January saw the largest supplier exit through Ofgem’s Supplier of Last Resort (SoLR) process. Green Network Energy ceased to trade on 27 January, with Ofgem appointing EDF Energy as SoLR for its 360,000 domestic customers shortly after. On the same day, the regulator announced the exit of Simplicity Energy,...

  • Home supply and services

    Chart of the week | Take on me: market share impacts of domestic supplier trade sales

    This week, we look at the market share impacts of recent mergers and acquisitions among domestic energy suppliers. Over the last year, the headline changes saw incumbent suppliers, npower and SSE, exit the domestic supply market with customers going to E.ON UK and Ovo Energy, respectively. The consolidation has resulted...

  • Home supply and services

    Chart of the week | One in (half) a million: Domestic medium supplier growth

    Ten medium suppliers now hold a 23% share of the domestic energy market, based on data from our Q220 Domestic Market Share Survey. In the three months to the end of April, we noted strong growth by the medium suppliers (adding over half a million energy accounts) and changes to...

  • Energy storage and flexibility

    Chart of the week | What’s in it for me? Household grid balancing

    The current dearth in energy demand and high renewable generation has brought the need for flexible consumption sharply into focus. Last weekend, Octopus Energy paid thousands of smart meter customers to use energy. Industry is now seriously looking at how households will be supported in their participation in demand side...

  • Home supply and services

    Chart of the week | One fifth of suppliers offering cheapest tariff have exited

    Since 2017, 15 suppliers have exited the domestic energy market through Ofgem’s Supplier of Last Resort (SoLR) process. While the exits stem from a range of reasons, many of these companies are likely to have experienced problems in cashflow. These problems are often heightened by very cheap tariffs. This Chart...

  • Home supply and services

    Chart of the week | Better together: consolidation in domestic retail

    The last 12 months have been a tumultuous time for the domestic retail market and its energy supply. In particular, the high-profile sale of SSE’s domestic supply business to Ovo Energy has radically altered the market landscape. As well as the transfer of npower customers to E.ON UK. This Chart...

  • Commercial and market outlook

    Chart of the week | It’s the final countdown…2109 in review

    As 2020 approaches we trade in our reports for gift wrapping and our coffee is set aside for mulled wine. Let’s take a moment to reflect on the topics of 2019 that have garnered the most interest from our complimentary Chart of the Week publication. Our popular weekly publications are...

  • Home supply and services

    Chart of the week | Better late than never: smart rollout gets new targets

    Last week BEIS announced that the rollout of smart meters will continue past the original 2020 deadline to 2024. In this Chart of the Week, we will look at some of the implications of delays to the smart meter rollout and highlight four key industry programmes that may be affected. Government has described...

  • Home supply and services

    Chart of the week | The long game – profits from domestic energy supply

    Understanding just how profitable domestic supply is has been a long-term concern about the energy market. Since 2009, the Big Six have had to publish separate financial accounts for their generation and supply businesses. These “segmental statements” must be issued no later than four months after the end of their...

  • Home supply and services

    Chart of the week | SVT and fixed tariff gap widens

    Prior to the increase of the default price cap on 1 April 2019 to £1,254/year, we reported on 14 March that some suppliers were already positioning their default variable tariffs against the increased cap. We also reported that the gap between default and market-based fixed tariffs was increasing as wholesale...

  • Home supply and services

    Chart of the week | Realising retention: churn risks for small suppliers

    Our latest domestic market share data shows a trend of rising customer churn for energy suppliers across the market. This is due to consumers choosing tariffs or suppliers that offer them a better price, service or added value product. Our chart shows an average churn rate for different supplier segmentations....

  • Home supply and services

    Chart of the week | Higher, Broader, Faster, Longer

    Wholesale price movements and pending regulatory changes are causing suppliers to amend the prices and types of domestic contracts they offer. Under a rising wholesale market, suppliers will adjust their tariffs more regularly and upwards. This is to ensure that suppliers recoup enough money to cover the additional costs. Our...

  • Home supply and services

    Chart of the week | Tariff limbo: how low can domestic supplier margins go?

    Recently we have seen the emergence of several domestic fixed dual fuel tariffs near £800/year in April. This week's Chart of the Week looks at whether these market-leading deals provide suppliers with sustainable supplier margins. The chart takes the cheapest fixed tariff on the market over time and strips it of relevant...

  • Home supply and services

    Chart of the week | Score! Gas retail market “competitive”

    Our Domestic market share survey highlighted for the first time that the gas retail market had dipped below the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI). This index indicates a competitive market and used by the US Department of Justice. Two decades after the gas retail market was opened to competition it has now...