Ofgem have announced a wide ranging investigating into the compliance of “BES” with regards its “obligations under the gas and electricity supply licences”. Ofgem explained that BES Commercial Electricity Ltd (electricity supplier) and Business Energy Solutions Ltd (gas supplier) were the subject of an investigation as to: “Whether BES (encompassing both licensees) is complying with […]
Ofgem (TPI) Working Group Oct-14
The Ofgem Third party intermediary (TPI) working group met for their 2nd session on 20th October following the initial scoping phase in September 2014. The session brought a little more clarity to the future arrangements of a TPI “code”. Below we summarise the key ‘outcomes’ to date. No formal decision has been taken by Ofgem […]
Energy Ombudsman’s Busy Year Gets Busier
The energy ombudsman has received 37,061 cases between January and September this year, three times the number in 2013, 97% of which were found to be valid resulting in compensation or an apology from the energy supplier. Lewis Shand Smith, the energy ombudsman said: “The aftermath of the recession, coupled with intense political and public […]
Ofgem’s War on Profit and the Causes of Profit
Ofgem have announced their latest attempt to force energy suppliers to provide transparent information around their profits amid on-going scepticism from the regulator that figures provided represent a full picture. Despite Dermot Nolan, Chief Executive of Ofgem’s claim to want principle and not prescriptive based regulation, his organisation has moved to further entrench the exact […]
EU and Unions Blow to SMEs
Holiday Pay to Include Commission Following British Gas Case In an EU ruling to send a shiver down the spine of UK SMEs, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) earlier this year ruled that workers had a ‘right’ to claim for holiday pay and overtime that takes account of gross earnings including commission and not […]
What to do about a problem like Paterson?
Like a lover scorned whose painful split is being acted out on the public stage, Owen Paterson, the former Environment Secretary has taken to the offensive. Describing Greenpeace as ‘wicked’, climate change campaigners as the ‘green blob’ and calling for the 2007 Climate Change Act to be scrapped it’s fair to say that Paterson hasn’t […]
The Big 6 foreign invasion turns sour
When the boss of your nation’s biggest energy company describes their and your situation as “poor” and “under pressure” you might need some light relief, why not look at the neighbours and cheer yourself up with their “disaster”. That appears to have been the tactic from EDF Energy boss Henri Proglio who said: “When it comes […]
Energy’s Nuclear Winter Approaches
Cracks in bricks might not be a traditional headline grabber but the fracturing of these particular bricks are really rather important and worrying. Following the enforced closure of the Heysham and Hartlepool nuclear reactors by EDF Energy because of boiler problems, their Hunterston B power station, one of the 14 AGR reactors they operate, has […]
EEF slams government energy policy
The EEF, the Manufacturers Organisation, has laid bare the effect high energy prices are having on UK industry and the impact that a projected 50% rise in electricity prices by 2020 will have. The EEF’s research claims: 25% of manufacturers would have to reconsider overseas investment 73% say the projected rise would have “a noticeable impact […]
When is a blackout not a blackout?
A lesson in spin from the energy markets. As the capacity crunch for Winter 2014/15 nears and politicians, industry bosses and the regulator come under renewed pressure there have been some bold statements put out in recent days. National Grid have announced that the margin over Winter 2014/15, the gap between the amount of electricity […]