Electricity retail

Low awareness of support ‘acute issue’ for vulnerable

S&P keeping close eye on utilities’ access to debt

Matan Benjamin, director of infrastructure ratings for the utility sector at S&P Global Ratings, talks to Utility Week about how coronavirus has impacted utilities companies' short-term liquidity, and his view that investor perceptions of the industry will be key in the near future.

Vickers: Tackling coronavirus puts sector on front foot for net zero

Matthew Vickers, chief executive at the Energy Ombudsman, tells Utility Week about the effects the virus has had on the service and about the worries over how SMEs are being affected with little protection. He does however remain optimistic that the lessons learned from the sector's response to the pandemic will be a key tool to achieving the 2050 net zero target.

Electricity bill inertia may provoke consumer backlash

Expectations of falling electricity bills following the recent collapse in oil prices will will require “careful management” to avoid a negative reaction from customers. Keith Maclean, managing director of Providence Policy, told Utility Week that fixed costs now account for a significant proportion of expenditure in the power sector meaning even if there was a knock-on effect on gas prices, the ultimate impact on electricity bills would be fairly limited.

Challenger brand offers free electricity to customers

Coronavirus: 13% of consumers struggle with energy bills

A survey by Citizens Advice found 4 per cent of consumers have already struggled to pay their energy bills while 9 per cent expect to fall behind. The survey also revealed that 50 per cent of pre-payment meter customers are struggling to top up, while 25 per cent say they are or expect to fall behind on energy bill payments.

Pure Planet creates entirely digital recruitment process

Suppliers are ‘split’ over BEIS coronavirus assistance

Davenport: We shouldn’t take a penny more than necessary from government

Good Energy founder Juliet Davenport explains why she continues to view furloughing staff as a “last resort” and insists “this can't just be about saving money for shareholders”. She tells Utility Week how the company is coping with the downturn in the business retail market, which now accounts for 50 per cent of its customer base, and its focus on supporting both the physical and mental wellbeing of its staff.

O’Shea must plot a new course for Centrica

After less than a month in the role on an interim basis, Centrica’s Chris O’Shea has been confirmed as the company’s new chief executive, described by recently appointed chairman Scott Wheway as “comprehensively the best candidate”. Utility Week speaks to industry sources to find out what issues the new boss will be expected to tackle during a difficult time for the sector.

Centrica makes O’Shea permanent CEO

Centrica has confirmed Chris O’Shea as its permanent chief executive - less than a month after he assumed the role on an interim basis. Recently appointed chairman Scott Wheway said he had reviewed internal and external applicants for the role and come to the conclusion that O'Shea was "comprehensively the best candidate".

Suppliers ‘should be mandated to provide emergency credit’

Fuel Bank Foundation chair, Matt Cole, says the charity is seeing an increase in people who would never have otherwise needed help due to coronavirus. He is calling for government and the energy supply industry to use this opportunity to put in place a safety net for the most vulnerable customers, especially those using pre-payment meters.

Pandemic dents switching in March

‘No plans’ to furlough staff at major energy suppliers

Scottish Power, Bulb and Shell Energy have all told Utility Week they will not be following industry peers in furloughing staff.  EDF has said that while it continues to monitor the situation, it has not put any employees on leave. 

BEIS support for energy suppliers ‘could be open to abuse’