Energy retail

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Weekend press round-up: Energy sector’s Covid bill hits £1.1bn

In our latest review of sector coverage across the national newspapers, new research puts a figure on the energy industry’s lost income during the pandemic. Meanwhile, SSE hits out at Ofgem’s draft determinations, saying they will cause “years of delay” to renewables projects. There are also reports that suppliers are fearing a surge in bad debts in the autumn as the furlough scheme draws to an end.

5 years ago

Energy advice must be ‘future proofed’ as market evolves

Help given to energy customers must evolve to reflect the changing nature of the market, Citizens Advice's interim head of energy policy has stressed.

5 years ago

Energy customers more likely to switch provider

Energy consumers were among those most likely to switch service providers compared to other sectors in the 12 months to June, according government figures, as Energy UK confirmed electricity switching rebounded last month. According to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s (BEIS) latest public attitudes tracker, energy was the second most popular product or service for switching, with 28 per cent saying they were most likely to have switched either provider or contract for energy.

5 years ago

Bulb to pay £1.76 million over customer failings

5 years ago

Smart meter installations see dramatic recovery

5 years ago

Energy customers in local lockdown need ‘flexible protections’

A BEIS official has said the government’s attention is turning to ensuring those who have to isolate in the winter are supported in being able to heat their homes. He pointed to the extension of free school meals during lockdown as evidence that help can be targeted but stressed that good data would be key.

5 years ago

Former BP trader creates challenger with ‘digital workforce’

Fledgling challenger brand Rebel Energy, due to launch later this year, is creating a “digital workforce” to complement its human customer service team. The company will combine employees with intelligent automation platform Blue Prism Cloud, allowing many customer service issues to be automated. Where the platform cannot resolve issues automatically, the team will be notified.

5 years ago

Yu Group: Energy market is ‘ripe for a shakeup’

Yu Group chief executive Bobby Kalar believes movements within the energy market are creating the perfect opportunities for the company to pursue its growth ambitions. Kalar was speaking to Utility Week following the acquisition of Bristol Energy's business customers.

5 years ago

Fletcher: Diversification is a long way off

5 years ago

Ofgem announces senior appointments as part of restructure

5 years ago

Options for recovering bad coronavirus debt outlined

5 years ago

Challenger suppliers gain from switching leap in July

The number of people changing energy suppliers appears to have recovered from a four-year low in the middle of lockdown with the highest number of switches completed in the month of July since records began.

5 years ago

Yu Group acquires Bristol Energy business customers

Yu Group has acquired Bristol Energy’s business customers, covering 4,000 meters across c1,500 businesses. Yu has paid an upfront £1.24 million for the customer book and as part of the deal has acquired £1 million of customer debts, to be paid to Yu later this month.

5 years ago

EDF: Industry must ‘redouble efforts’ on complaints

Energy retailers should "redouble their efforts" to ensure they are listening properly to customers' complaints, an EDF Energy director has said. Paul Spence, director of strategy and corporate affairs, made the comments during Utility Week’s latest #AskUsAnything webinar in response to a recent article by Stephen Littlechild.

5 years ago

Pandemic halts progress towards lifting price cap

5 years ago

Coronavirus drives price cap to lowest level yet

A drop in wholesale prices due to the coronavirus pandemic has resulted in the price cap being lowered to its lowest level yet, Ofgem has announced. Ofgem has also issued an update on whether it will recommend the cap should be lifted at the end of this year.

5 years ago

Plan Zero: How Ovo is fighting climate change

September marks a year since Ovo Energy unveiled its Plan Zero pledge to halve its customers’ carbon footprints by 2030. Utility Week catches up with Kate Weinberg, Ovo’s director of sustainability, to discuss how technology and the green recovery is helping meet the target and why Covid-19 should not distract us from the threat of climate change.

5 years ago

Citizens Advice says microbusinesses still need more support with debt

Microbusinesses need more support from Ofgem on debt-related issues, a principal policy manager at Citizens Advice has told Utility Week. The energy regulator recently unveiled a series of measures designed to protect millions of microbusiness customers from “unscrupulous” energy brokers, as well as enabling smoother switching.

5 years ago

On the Move: Ofwat chair to join Ovo board; SSEN appoints new director

In our latest round-up of industry appointments, Ofwat chair Jonson Cox takes up a role with the Ovo Energy board and SSEN appoints a former Northumbrian Water director to head up operations in its southern distribution network.

5 years ago

Nottingham City Council absorbs £24m loss from Robin Hood Energy

Nottingham City Council has absorbed a loss of more than £24 million from its investment in Robin Hood Energy, mainly by writing off loans to the supplier. The company is currently undergoing a strategic review in which “all options” for the business are being considered.

5 years ago