consumers

  • Commercial and market outlook

    Perspective | Is the design of the electricity market costing consumers money?

    This article is from our Energy Spectrum publication which was published on 4 March 2022. It has become increasingly clear the existing market design is unfit for either a future net zero world or a period of fossil fuel price crisis, but what market design might be best for our...

  • Commercial and market outlook

    Be the change you want to see – my takeaway from this year’s BIEE conference

    On 13 September, I spoke at the British Institute of Energy Economics (BIEE) Energy for a net zero society conference. The conference considered the legacy of the Covid pandemic and how the means of recovery will influence the pace and direction of the net zero transition. The timing of the...

  • Regulation and policy

    How will consumers take to Market-wide Half Hourly Settlement?

    Ofgem published its decision to implement the move to Market-wide Half Hourly Settlement (MHHS) on 20 April. This confirms plans to move to new settlement arrangements over a four and a half year time period, with the Elexon-led Design Working Group’s Target Operating Model to be used as the blueprint. Meters...

  • Regulation and policy

    Building foundations: Improving outcomes for vulnerable customers now and in the future

    The standards of conduct in the electricity and gas supply licences set out that suppliers must ensure that “each Domestic Customer, including each Domestic Customer in a Vulnerable Situation, is treated Fairly”. This licence condition is principles-based and so exactly how each supplier interprets it is up to them. Although,...

  • Regulation and policy

    Editor’s Pick | BEIS announces new measures to protect PPM customers

    New measures are being introduced to protect prepayment meter (PPM) customers during the Covid-19 outbreak, BEIS announced on 19 March. PPM customers, who may not be able to add credit can speak to their supplier about options to keep them supplied. This could include nominating a third party for credit top...

  • Home supply and services

    BBC Radio Norfolk interview: The drop in oil price and the potential effects on customers bills

    Craig Lowrey, one of our Senior Consultants, was live on BBC Radio Norfolk’s airwaves discussing the recent drop in oil prices, following a dispute by Russia and Saudi Arabia over reducing oil production. Craig told listeners that last Friday in response to the Coronavirus hitting global demand for oil, there...

  • Regulation and policy

    Editor’s Pick | From little acorns: Ofgem’s state of the market report

    This article was originally published in Energy Spectrum Issue 686 on 14 October 2019. Ofgem published its State of the Market 2019 Report on 3 October, giving us a comprehensive overview of the retail and wholesale energy markets and much more besides. Now in its third year, the report sees Ofgem diligently...

  • Home supply and services

    Rise and fall – regulated price changes afoot

    Despite a high number of suppliers per capita, the largest supplier in the Northern Irish electricity market retains a high market share and a price control. In this week's blog, discuss the recently announced price rise for Power NI, and compare this to the reductions announced in the price cap...

  • Commercial and market outlook

    Love Ireland: Retail market trends in 2018

    The Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published it's 2018 Electricity and Gas Retail Markets Annual Report on 8 July. The document summarised the key trends over the year, which covered switching, price changes and market share of the incumbent suppliers. In this blog, we look at some of...

  • Regulation and policy

    It’s got to be perfect – The Imperfection Charge

    A consultation paper has been issued by the SEM Committee (SEMC) on the proposed increase to the Imperfections Charge (and Incentive Outurn). For many, such papers can seem like business as usual, but the proposed hike of the imperfections charge to almost double last year’s value is bound to attract...

  • Regulation and policy

    Suppliers to identify engagement opportunities

    Following stakeholder engagement throughout last year, Ofgem’s reforms to domestic customer-supplier communications will be effective from 11 February 2019. In less than two weeks’ time, suppliers are expected to be delivering proactive approaches to engaging consumers in accordance with five enforceable principles set out under four new supply licence conditions....