News

We received the following communication from Utilita today: Utilita has today made the incredibly difficult decision to temporarily cease taking on any new customers or void properties. There are many factors, but primarily this is down to two: the unprecedented worldwide energy crisis – with gas prices alone going up 12% in one day, [fortunately…

Alpine Utilities  reached out to OFGEM to intervene against exorbitant out-of-contract rates. Alpine wrote: I am looking at a recent electricity bill from British Gas to a customer, who unfortunately got out of contract for a few days. The charges are exorbitant with 31.162p/kwh, which is about double the contract rate.   While domestic standard…

We have just been informed that Scottish Power renewals policy is to renew it only from the 1st of the Month. To make matters worse, if a renewal application is being submitted late in the month it may not have enough time to book it for the following 1st but only a month later. In…

OFGEM issued yesterday a letter to suppliers, outlining their expectations for energy suppliers who are dealing with domestic and micro business consumers when undertaking charge recovery action (also called backbilling). https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/system/files/docs/2020/12/open_letter_on_expectations_for_energy_suppliers_undertaking_charge_recovery_action_0.pdf The purpose of this letter is to remind relevant energy suppliers of the requirements placed on them by supply Standard Licence Condition (SLC) 1 21BA…

Utilita has been reprimanded by OFGEM for continue to fit 1st generation smart meters (SMETS1), which can loose functionality when the customer switches supplier, instead of the latest generation SMETS2 meters. OFGEM has warned, if they fail to fit 15000 2nd generation smart meters by 31st July 21 they could be banned from taking on…

British Gas has recently introduced a new policy: They will no longer communicate with smaller brokers apart from accepting termination notices. We find this totally unacceptable, as many customers rely on their brokers to resolve billing and other problems with their suppliers. Customers have all the right to appoint a 3rd party of their choice…

OFGEM have announced that 3 companies pay combined £10.5 million over the 9th August power cut. See link for full details: Companies pay £10.5 million over 9 August power cut This will hopefully send a message to all power generators and distributors to ensure security of supply.      

We have just been informed by a supplier that the energy market is currently going through a significant volatility due to the latest EDF nuclear scare. EDF reported that some of it components currently in use by french nuclear power stations are substandard. EDF shares plunged 7% and the effect on global energy prices have…

OFGEM has recently published a report investigating the possibility of changing the price cap model for domestic consumers on the expensive variable tariff to a cost pass-through tariff. In response I have written to OFGEM asking why is there no price cap on out-of-contract tariff for business customers and we received the following response: Thank…

Two supplier’s who previously offered cash & cheque payment method have reviewed their policy. SSE have communicated they no longer offer CC payment but customers can choose between fixed monthly or variable DD. Similarly British Gas are restricting  DD payment only to small customers (<50’000kwh electricity or <73’200kwh gas). With this growing list of supplier’s…