domestic retail

  • 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...

  • Regulation and policy

    Chart of the week | WHD and ECO thresholds now cover 98% of market

    1 April 2020 will see the government’s Warm Home Discount (WHD) and Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme thresholds drop from 200,000 to 150,000. This will require all suppliers with more than 150,000 domestic customer accounts to be mandatory participants in these schemes. This week’s Chart of the Week looks at...

  • 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...

  • 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...