Gas retail

Lockdown makes case for stronger SME protections

SME businesses were more likely than their smaller counterparts to have had an energy or telecoms complaint that they needed help with during lockdown, new research has revealed. Ombudsman Services, which handles complaints in both the energy and telecoms sectors, says the findings from its survey make the case for stronger protections, arguing that giving SMEs with unresolved complaints access to redress will boost the post-Covid recovery by helping them to survive.

Scrapping big six label ‘shows competition has worked’

Ofgem’s decision to adopt a new classification of domestic suppliers by market share reflects how the market has changed in recent years, industry experts have said. Utility Week gauges reaction to the move, including from former Npower boss, Paul Massara.

On the move: Bulb appoints CFO; Octopus Energy Germany announces CEO

In our latest industry appointment round-up Bulb poaches another EasyJet executive to bolster its senior team, while Octopus Energy has appointed a chief executive to launch its German division. Meanwhile, the Offshore Wind Industry Council has announced the appointment of a new co-chair.

New initiative helps consumers verify energy sources hourly

An initiative has been launched to deliver hourly certificates to verify exactly where consumers’ energy comes from, helping them to understand their carbon emissions in real time. EnergyTag is made up of more than 60 companies including Ovo Energy, Microsoft and Google. Its council and advisory board are working together to define a set of guidelines that will form the basis of a market for energy certificates with a timestamp of one hour or less.

Smart meters could help identify health issues among vulnerable

BEIS to propose raising mutualisation threshold

Sector needs strong policy signals to reach heat pump goal

Delivering ‘PHD level customer service’ in the energy sector

Offline billpayers hit with £500 premium

Digitally excluded households face an energy market premium of up to £485, National Energy Action (NEA) has estimated. The charity revealed the figure to Utility Week in response to a Citizens Advice report which urged the sector to ensure that going forward information and customer support is not solely provided online and that people can still access help and advice in a variety of non-digital formats.

Social Energy expands into Australia with solar offering

Deferral of new social reporting questions ‘could create blind spot’

Fuel poverty charity National Energy Action has raised concerns following Ofgem’s decision to defer the introduction of new questions and categories regarding social obligations reporting by a year. Licence conditions stipulate that suppliers must submit data to the regulator quarterly and annually on a variety of areas, including debt levels, disconnection rates, prepayment meters, smart meters, payment methods used by customers and help for vulnerable customers.

Suppliers failing to meet Renewables Obligation should be ‘starved of cash’

October saw highest switching rate since April 2019

Ofgem confirms mutualisation for third consecutive year

Flat green gas levy would set ‘risky precedent’