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Government calls for shared multi-sector PSR
The government has announced it is exploring options to introduce a single, multi-sector Priority Service Register (PSR) to help vulnerable utility consumers. Under plans announced as part of the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement on Wednesday (22 November) energy, water and telecoms companies would share data so those most in need only need to disclose information about their vulnerability once, regardless of where they live.  
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Smart meter deadline in 2025 is ‘not helpful’
The deadline for energy suppliers to complete the smart meter rollout by the end of 2025 has been described as “not helpful” by a deputy director of the industry’s trade body. Energy UK’s deputy director of retail policy, Daniel Portis, was speaking to Utility Week following the news that six retailers have agreed to pay out almost £11 million after failing to hit their installation targets last year.
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Ofgem confirms January price cap increase
Rising wholesale energy costs will lead to a 5% price cap increase for consumers in January, Ofgem has confirmed. In its latest quarterly cap update the energy regulator has also unveiled plans to level standing charges for prepayment meter (PPM) customers to end the so-called PPM premium.
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Latest in Gas retail

Utilita sees 800% jump in support credit payments
Prepayment meter (PPM) specialist energy supplier Utilita has told Utility Week that it has seen an almost 800% increase in the amount of additional support credit (ASC) it provides to customers over the past three years. Commenting on the stats Utilita’s non-executive chair Derek Lickorish said the data highlights that "households are running on empty, their financial resilience destroyed".
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Calls for small business standing charge freeze
Small firms should have their energy standing charges frozen this winter and have access to a 14-day contract cooling off period, a trade body has urged. The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has released its latest Small Business Index which shows that utilities are a cost driver for a majority of small firms, with more than 57% citing utilities as the main cause for rising business costs in Q3 this year, down slightly from 62% the previous quarter.
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October best month for smart installations in 2023
New data has revealed that more smart meters were installed in October than during any other month so far in 2023. October’s figures are 14% higher than September and just under 5% higher than October last year.
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Utility Warehouse co-CEO steps down
Stuart Burnett will become Utility Warehouse’s sole chief executive next summer, with co-chief Andrew Lindsay intending to step down from his role after 16 years with the company. Utility Week spoke to Burnett about the change at the top, after the multi-utility provider announced strong half year results which show an adjusted pre-tax profit increase of more than 35%.
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Energy minister resisted PPM ban days before practice paused
A government minister and energy retailers pushed back against calls to introduce a mandatory ban on the forced installation of prepayment meters (PPM) just days before revelations at British Gas came to light, Utility Week can reveal. Meeting minutes obtained via a Freedom of Information request show that energy minister Graham Stuart was particularly concerned that introducing a mandatory moratorium on forced PPM installations would result in an increase in customers refusing to pay their bills.
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Utilita calls for networks to bear standing charge burden
Standing charges paid to networks by energy suppliers should be replaced with a unit rate charge to help consumers, the boss of Utilita has suggested. Bill Bullen was speaking to Utility Week in the wake of Ofgem's recent call for input on the matter.
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So Energy CEO steps down
The chief executive of So Energy is stepping down after two years in the role. Monica Collings took on the position in August 2021 after Irish power supplier ESB acquired a more than 75% stake in the disruptor brand, bringing the two companies together.
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Energy is ‘becoming a luxury’ for millions
Energy is “becoming a luxury” for millions of UK households and the government’s response to the crisis has been “woefully inadequate”, a national fuel poverty charity has warned. Fuel Bank Foundation, which provides emergency financial support to prepayment meter (PPM) customers, as well as those who use alternative fuels, has published its latest report which highlights the extreme lengths some are going to as a result of fuel poverty. It has made a number of recommendations it wants to see implemented including, among other things, increasing benefits in line with inflation and implementing a national energy efficiency programme.
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Private rental sector ‘ill-prepared’ for net zero
British Gas has called on the government to introduce kitemarked loans and tax relief for energy efficiency measures in the private rental sector, which it says is “ill-prepared” for net zero. In a new report, Greening the Private Rental Sector, the Centrica-backed supplier highlights what it sees as the focus of home decarbonisation and insulation schemes on low income homeowners and the social rented sector, while the private rental sector “has been left out of policy discussion and research”.
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Ofgem concedes standing charge reforms could hit customers
Ofgem has warned that a “significant number of customers” could be made worse off if standing charges are amended to reflect usage. It comes as the energy regulator has published a call for input on how the standing charge is applied to energy bills and what alternatives could be considered.
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Energy sector has created its own smart meter rollout woes
The energy sector has created its own “productivity challenge” in relation to the smart meter rollout, an industry expert has suggested. Speaking to Utility Week Electralink chief executive Dan Hopkinson proposed energy retailers work together to install smart meters in the remaining c.40% of properties yet to have one, with concerns these will be very difficult to reach.
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Ofgem confirms new smart meter reporting requirements
Ofgem has confirmed new smart meter reporting requirements for energy suppliers, following accusations from the government that retailers were “deprioritising” non-domestic smart installations. Earlier this year the government confirmed it would amend the Smart Meter Targets Framework so that mixed portfolio suppliers will be set separate domestic and non-domestic installation requirements in the final two years of the framework. Following this decision, the energy regulator has confirmed it will be making changes to the reporting requirements in order for them to align with the new requirements.
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