Regulation

BEIS confirms raft of changes to Capacity Market rules

Network payment holiday risks creating ‘zombie energy suppliers’

Talks are believed to be underway between Ofgem and energy suppliers over the possibility of suspending network charges for three months. However, Neil Cornelius, managing director at global consulting firm Berkeley Research Group, warned such plans could risk retailers building up additional debts.

UK sets out red lines for energy agreement with EU

The government has told the European Union that it wants Ofgem to retain observer status on the pan-European umbrella bodies for energy regulators. The demand is included in the UK’s draft energy agreement, published as part of the government’s proposals for a free trade agreement with the EU.

Waterwise says cuts to efficiency programmes are ‘false economy’

Watchdogs to CMA: Customers must come before shareholders

Concerns that redeterminations of water company business plans could benefit shareholders more than consumers have been raised by watchdog groups, with one suggesting firms that argued otherwise were masking “a far more important conflict” between themselves and the regulator.

Ofgem approves temporary changes to gas settlement

Green Star Energy to pay £750,000 following licence breaches

Green Star Energy is to compensate more than 7,000 customers after failing to issue them with the terms of their supply contract within a reasonable time. The supplier is now in the process of paying compensation of £30 to each affected customer in recognition of poor service and the fact that these customers did not receive welcome packs.

Ovo Energy allowed to recoup partial costs of taking on Brilliant Energy customers

Ofgem finally ends double charging of storage for balancing services

The power grid in lockdown: A glimpse of the future

Government offers £100m loan to relieve suppliers from rising CfD costs

Transformation lessons from the NHS

The impact of the coronavirus outbreak on all aspects of the utilities sector will require a joint response across regulators, government and companies. According to Ted Hopcroft and Liz Parminter, from PA Consulting, this may necessitate the kind of cultural transformation that NHS procurement is currently undergoing.

Ofgem outlines DCC performance regime direction

Ofgem has published a draft direction which outlines an updated framework for the Data Communications Company’s performance incentives. The regulator is now consulting on a revised OPR framework, including proposals for incentivising DCC’s system performance under four new outcome-based measures, broken down by meter type and region where relevant.

Tweaks to cap and floor regime for interconnectors

Regulation: Softly, softly or punchy, punchy?

Utility Week digital editor James Wallin examines how the responses of water and energy regulators have differed during the coronavirus outbreak.