Regulation

Weekend press: Three suppliers force-fitted 70% of PPMs as bills rocketed

In our latest round-up of the weekend’s national news coverage, the government has revealed that British Gas, Scottish Power and OVO force-fitted seven in ten of all the prepayment meters installed using court warrants last year. Elsewhere, Ovo has launched a tariff that is cheaper than the government's cap on household bills.

Calls for outcomes-based water regulation get a boost

Single social water tariff ‘ought to be non-negotiable’

Lords back single social tariff in water

Investec forecasts sub-£2,000 price cap

Overlapping metering standards hampering flexibility

Doubts raised over Ofwat’s new powers

Business retailer fined for deliberate overcharging

United Gas & Power (UGP) has been hit with a £2.1 million financial penalty for multiple breaches of its licence conditions. A two-year investigation by Ofgem concluded that UGP deliberately overcharged customers, did not return credit balances owed to former customers and repeatedly failed to properly communicate at time of contract renewal.

Ofgem investigating potential breaches of EBRS  

Brearley: Forced PPM ban to extend beyond this month

Ofgem’s moratorium on forced pre-payment meter installations will not end later this month, the regulator's chief executive Jonathan Brearley has revealed. Suppliers will also face fines if they do not improve the way that they identify vulnerable customers.

O’Shea defends Centrica’s forced PPM procedures

Regional planning role could overwhelm FSO

Back to the CMA

Northern Powergrid appeals ED2 decision

Weekend press: Government to end ‘prepayment premium’

The government is to end the “prepayment premium” by picking up the additional costs of the meters from suppliers. Also in Utility Week’s latest round-up of the weekend papers, Ofwat seeks new powers to block excessive dividends to shareholders and Thames Water appoints financial advisors to help tackle its mountain of debt.