Gas retail

A new challenge for the challengers

After years of mergers, acquisitions and the strong growth of new entrants, Ofgem finally decided to ditch the term ‘big six’ in November, with suppliers now being ordered by size as small, medium and large. The retirement of the big six term – with all its accompanying baggage – has been long debated. But, with Bulb and Octopus now classed in the same category as British Gas, Adam John asks whether the moniker ‘challenger’ has also had its day.

Suppliers’ green tariff claims should be independently audited

Claims by energy suppliers regarding the environmental impact of their green tariffs should be audited, either independently or by Ofgem, Good Energy has recommended. The retailer’s proposals to tackle greenwashing have been backed by Ofgem’s former head of future consumers.

Scottish Power takes on Yorkshire Energy customers

Customers of failed power supplier Yorkshire Energy have been transferred to Scottish Power, Ofgem has confirmed. The regulator also further revealed that it is minded to allow Scottish Power to claim a £10.6 million last resort supply payment after it took on the customers of Extra Energy in 2018. This is £3 million less than the supplier's original claim.

Second lockdown did not derail smart meter rollout

Yorkshire Energy exits market

Yorkshire Energy has become the fourth power supplier to enter the supplier of last resort process this year. The retailer, also known as Daisy Energy, had also entered into level two credit default earlier this week.

Verastar appoints former TalkTalk MD as chief executive

Business utility provider Verastar Group has appointed a former TalkTalk and Virgin Media director as its new chief executive. Verastar, which achieved a turnover of £183 million in its last financial year, currently provides water to around 110,000 accounts and electricity and gas to 26,000 accounts.

New Vulnerability Commitment to ‘level-up performance’

A total of 15 energy retailers representing 70 per cent of the domestic market have voluntarily signed up to Energy UK’s new Vulnerability Commitment. Signatories of the commitment, designed to complement existing licence requirements, agree to adopt a “collaborative, proactive and transparent” approach that will improve both the quality of support provided by them and customer awareness that such support exists.

Eon: Fake news is hindering smart meter rollout

Doubling down on debt – AI and Machine Learning in action

Ofgem to extend protections for PPM customers

Ofgem is to extend protections for prepayment meter (PPM) customers who have had their meter installed under warrant, reflecting the extended smart meter rollout deadline.

Cold homes death toll reveals grim cost of fuel poverty

National Energy Action is warning of the increased risk posed by cold homes this winter, after new ONS figures show this as the cause of 8,500 deaths last year. The charity has issued the warning on Fuel Poverty Awareness Day, in which it was revealed that there were 28,300 excess winter deaths in total last year.

Utilita hits back at ‘grossly unfair’ Ofgem over potential final order

New licence conditions to take effect in new year

New licence conditions designed to improve customer service standards and decrease the likelihood of supplier failure will be introduced in the new year, Ofgem has revealed. In a decision document Ofgem outlined a series of measures as part of its ongoing supplier licence review.

Smart meter installs rebounded in Q3

More than 6 million SMETS2 smart meters installed on network