Energy Suppliers news from 2024
65 stories, newest first
- December 2024
Consumer Scotland publishes response to Ofgem 24-7 metering support consultation
Consumer Scotland has published its response to Ofgem's statutory consultation on Supplier 24-7 Metering Support, backing the proposal while raising concerns about online-only contact routes and rural connectivity.
British Gas Energy Trust publishes 2024 Impact Report marking 20 years
The British Gas Energy Trust has published its 2024 Impact Report, covering 2023/24 and 20 years of work on fuel poverty, with £16.3 million in support for more than 64,000 clients.
So Energy introduces 0% finance option for solar installations
So Energy has introduced a 0% finance option that lets customers spread the cost of a solar installation, the supplier said in a December 2024 article on solar panel costs.
Suppliers completed contacting RTS customers
All electricity customers with Radio Teleswitch meters should have been contacted by their supplier about a free smart meter upgrade by the end of 2024, ahead of the service ending on 30 June 2025.
- November 2024
Citizens Advice urges Ofgem to limit back-billing to six months for smart meter customers
Citizens Advice has called on Ofgem to cut the back-billing window to six months for smart meter customers, after helping with more than 52,000 energy billing problems in 2024.
SSEN restores power to all customers affected by Storm Bert
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks has reconnected every home and business left without power by Storm Bert, after high winds and flooding damaged overhead lines across its north and south distribution areas.
EDF launches 12-month fixed tariff priced below the January price cap
EDF has launched a 12-month fixed tariff at £1,608 for a typical direct debit household, which it says is £130 below the level the January price cap is expected to reach.
Energy UK publishes Winter 2024 Commitment for household customers
Energy UK and 15 suppliers covering almost the entire market have published a Winter 2024 Commitment setting out financial help, debt advice and service standards for household customers.
Citizens Advice responds to Ofgem's Consumer Vulnerability Strategy Refresh
Citizens Advice has welcomed Ofgem's refreshed Consumer Vulnerability Strategy but pressed for stronger action on energy debt, back billing, the priority services register and standing charges.
British Gas becomes worst energy provider for customer service
British Gas fell four points to a net customer service satisfaction score of +39, making it the worst energy provider in Which?'s latest survey of household contacts.
Good Energy launches Heat Pump tariff
Good Energy has launched a fixed heat pump tariff with a 10p per kWh off-peak rate, open to all households, according to a battery tariff guide that also records the rate has since risen.
Ofgem opens enforcement investigation into Utilita
Ofgem has opened an enforcement investigation into Utilita's compliance with the rules governing the installation and use of prepayment meters for domestic customers, it disclosed in November 2024.
Scottish Power customer service satisfaction improves by eighteen points
Scottish Power's overall customer service satisfaction rose eighteen points to +56 in Which? research published in February 2025, bringing the supplier to around the sector average.
- October 2024
Fourth round of winter Post Office Pop-Ups launches
The British Gas Energy Trust has opened a fourth winter round of money and energy advice Pop-Ups in Post Offices across Britain, running two days a week until March 2025.
KGCP Group Limited ceased active trading
The Energy Ombudsman records KGCP Group Limited, an energy broker, as inactive from 14 October 2024, and cannot review disputes about it because it was not signed up to the scheme.
Citizens Advice publishes Wales energy affordability research as price cap increases
Citizens Advice published research on 9 October 2024 showing households in Wales still need greater protection from high energy prices as the price cap rose, with thousands worried about falling behind on bills.
EDF and Pod Point launch EV charger and tariff bundle
EDF and Pod Point have launched a combined home charger and EV tariff bundle that cuts the upfront charger payment to £499 and spreads the rest over two years.
Good Energy launches FIT REGO Boost
Good Energy launched FIT REGO Boost in October 2024, a scheme that pays small solar generators for the renewable certificates their panels produce, separate from feed-in tariff payments.
Price cap changes allow suppliers 11% more profit on standard variable tariffs
The End Fuel Poverty Coalition says price cap changes from October let suppliers earn 11% more profit on standard variable tariffs, part of £483 billion in profits since the bills crisis began.
Speak, Seek, Save debt advice campaign launches for winter
Energy UK's Winter 2024 Commitment sets out supplier support for household customers from 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025, alongside the Citizens Advice Speak, Seek, Save debt advice campaign.
- September 2024
SunutilitiesGroup Limited recorded as inactive by Energy Ombudsman
The Energy Ombudsman has recorded the energy broker SunutilitiesGroup Limited as inactive, with its membership of the dispute scheme shown as running from 10 January to 27 September 2024.
Citizens Advice published its response to Ofgem's initial policy consultation
Citizens Advice has told Ofgem that its proposed review mechanism for the opex escalator under RIIO-T2 is not in consumers' interests because it could only ever raise allowances.
Consumer Scotland responds to Ofgem standing charges options paper
Consumer Scotland has told Ofgem that shifting suppliers' fixed costs from standing charges to unit rates would penalise households with high essential energy use, including those in Scotland.
Citizens Advice publishes report on targeted bill support across essential markets
Citizens Advice has published a report finding that targeted bill support across energy, water, broadband and motor insurance is failing low-income households, and setting out short-term actions for government.
EDF launches cheapest energy-only fixed tariffs among major suppliers
EDF has launched a one-year fixed tariff at £1,649 and a two-year fixed tariff at £1,669, both below October 2024's £1,717 price cap, alongside a one-year tariff tracking £50 below the cap.
Octopus expected to repay circa £2.8 billion owed for Bulb
Octopus Energy is expected to repay about £2.8 billion owed for Bulb by September 2024, under a deferral trigger that could push the payment to September 2025.
Rebel Energy takes over supply of Ebico Living customers from Octopus Energy
Ebico Living's electricity supply moves from Octopus Energy to Rebel Energy from October 2024, a change recorded in Which? sustainability rankings published in October 2024.
ScottishPower launches EV Optimise add-on for EV drivers
ScottishPower has launched EV Optimise, an add-on that smart charges electric vehicles at 9p per kWh day and night and credits savings back to the customer's electricity bill.
Share Energy launches as newest Northern Ireland electricity supplier
Share Energy, based in Belfast, launched in September 2024 as the newest electricity supplier in Northern Ireland, claiming it will share half of future profits with customers.
- August 2024
Citizens Advice calls for reform of the Warm Home Discount
Citizens Advice has published analysis of continuing energy debt and called on the government to reform the Warm Home Discount before winter, as the price cap is forecast to rise.
Supplier allowed profit margins to rise 11% under new cap
Ofgem has raised the energy price cap by 10% from 1 October, taking a typical household bill in England, Scotland and Wales to £1,717, while the profit margins suppliers are allowed to make rise 11%.
Suppliers required to provide a way to report electricity supply failures
From 1 August all electricity suppliers must give customers a way to report a loss of supply, with support available around the clock, as the radio teleswitch switch-off approaches.
- July 2024
Consumer Scotland publishes response to Ofgem consultation on acquisition-only tariffs ban
Consumer Scotland has published its response to Ofgem's statutory consultation on the future of the ban on acquisition-only energy tariffs, dated 8 July 2024.
Consumer Scotland published response opposing early BAT removal
Consumer Scotland has told Ofgem it opposes removing the ban on acquisition-only tariffs on 1 October 2024, saying the protection should stay for the foreseeable future.
Good Energy launches fixed EV tariff with Zapmap Premium benefit
Good Energy has launched a fixed electric vehicle tariff with a five-hour overnight rate of 7.4p per kWh and a free Zapmap Premium subscription, available from 1 July.
Ofgem opens compliance engagement with six largest suppliers on smart meter obligations
Ofgem opened compliance engagement with Great Britain's six largest energy suppliers in July 2024 to examine why some smart meters are not operating in smart mode.
- June 2024
Citizens Advice and others write to Ofgem urging reconsideration of proposal to remove the Ban on Acquisition-only Tariffs
Citizens Advice and seven other organisations have written to Ofgem asking it to reconsider a proposal to remove the ban on acquisition-only tariffs, which limit deals to new customers.
Citizens Advice published its response to Ofgem's operating cost allowance review consultation
Citizens Advice has told Ofgem not to loosen the operating cost allowance in the energy price cap without clear evidence, arguing for lower-quartile benchmarking of supplier costs.
Citizens Advice publishes response to government consultation package on energy smart appliances standards
Citizens Advice has responded to three government consultations on standards for energy smart appliances and load control organisations, backing wider consumer protections for the load control sector.
- May 2024
Lowcost Solutions Ltd recorded as inactive by Energy Ombudsman
The Energy Ombudsman has recorded the energy broker Lowcost Solutions Ltd as inactive, with a trading period that ended on 29 May 2024, and says it cannot review disputes about it.
Citizens Advice responds to Ofgem's call for input on the future of domestic price protection
Citizens Advice has told Ofgem that time-of-use tariffs expected after marketwide half hourly settlement bring new risks, and that default tariff consumers still need protection.
Energy Heroes Ltd ceased trading
The Energy Ombudsman has recorded Energy Heroes Ltd, an energy broker, as inactive, with its membership of the ombudsman scheme ending on 14 May 2024.
Consumer Scotland publishes response to Ofgem Future Price Protection discussion paper
Consumer Scotland has published its response to Ofgem's Future Price Protection discussion paper, urging the regulator to place consumer outcomes at the centre of any reform of the energy price cap.
First Warm Home Prescription trial with an energy supplier launched with ScottishPower
Energy Systems Catapult has launched the first Warm Home Prescription trial run with an energy supplier, with ScottishPower installing efficiency measures at no cost to households through the Energy Company Obligation.
Big Energy Credit Claim Back campaign launched
The Warm This Winter coalition's Big Energy Credit Claim Back campaign drew more than 20,000 sign-ups and an average reclaim of £330, as polling found 68 per cent of bill payers want credit returned automatically.
British Gas launches You Pay: We Pay bill-matching scheme
British Gas has launched You Pay: We Pay, a £15m scheme that matches the affordable energy payments of eligible customers for six months from June 2024.
- April 2024
EDF launches Essentials 1Yr May25 fixed tariff
EDF has launched Essentials 1Yr May25, a one-year fixed tariff priced at £1,580, which it says is £110 below the current price cap and the cheapest offered by any large supplier.
OVO launches 0% APR solar financing option
OVO has launched a 0% APR solar financing option giving households 36 months interest-free to spread the cost of a solar panel installation, subject to a £500 deposit.
E.ON pay-monthly subscription pilot to launch in April
E.ON will open a pay-monthly subscription pilot in April giving 350 North West households a heat pump, solar panels and a battery from £150 a month over 20 years.
Supplier switches must complete within five working days with £30 compensation
Ofgem rules in force from 1 April 2024 require energy suppliers to complete a customer's switch within five working days, with £30 compensation payable if the deadline is missed.
- March 2024
Which? names Scottish Power, Ovo Energy and British Gas worst energy suppliers for customer service
Which? has named Scottish Power, Ovo Energy and British Gas as the worst energy suppliers for quick responses and effective solutions, with Octopus Energy rated best.
E.ON Next electricity prepayment emergency credit increased from £5 to £10
E.ON Next has raised emergency credit on most electricity prepayment meters from £5 to £10, with the increase still being rolled out and customers told by letter or email.
SSE has hubs live at five M7 retail parks with 15 more in planning
SSE has opened ultra-rapid charging hubs at five M7 retail parks and says a further 15 are going through planning, as it works towards 500 hubs by 2030.
- February 2024
Citizens Advice responds to DESNZ consultation on heat network zoning
Citizens Advice has told the government it supports heat network zoning but wants consumer protection built into the policy, warning that leaving a heat network is extremely difficult once a building is connected.
Utility Warehouse launches Fixed Saver 15 and Fixed 15 fixed energy tariffs
Utility Warehouse has launched two fixed energy tariffs priced below both the January and April 2024 price caps, with the cheaper option requiring customers to move two other services to the supplier.
EDF acquires solar panel and battery installer Contact Solar
EDF has acquired Chorley-based solar panel and battery installer Contact Solar, its second installer purchase in a year, as it builds towards combined solar, battery, heat pump and EV offers.
British Gas customer support packages reach £140 million
British Gas announced customer support packages totalling £140 million between August 2022 and February 2024, according to the British Gas Energy Trust, which has itself received nearly £200 million since 2004.
British Gas launches Price Promise tariff priced below Ofgem price cap
British Gas has launched a fixed-rate Price Promise tariff at £1,699 a year for average dual fuel use, promising to beat the Ofgem price cap until at least July.
Good Energy acquires Trust Solar
Good Energy has closed Trust Solar, the JPS Group solar and storage components business it acquired in February 2024, saying it will concentrate on solar and battery installations.
Ofgem introduced the Float temporary debt allowance
Ofgem has opened a consultation on whether the temporary debt allowance it added to the energy price cap in February 2024, known as the Float, was set at the right level.
- January 2024
Which? ranks British Gas worst energy firm overall in annual survey
Which? has ranked British Gas bottom of its annual energy firm survey with an overall score of 56 per cent, while naming Octopus Energy, Ecotricity and E (Gas & Electricity) as Recommended Providers.
Consumer Scotland responds to Ofgem's Standing Charges Call for Input
Consumer Scotland has told Ofgem that moving standing charges onto unit rates in isolation would hit Scottish, disabled and electric heating households hardest, and that the regulator's own modelling does not justify the change.
Eight suppliers cleared to restart involuntary prepayment meter installations
Eight energy suppliers met Ofgem's criteria to restart involuntary prepayment meter installations from January 2024, after the practice was suspended in February 2023.
First suppliers restart involuntary PPM activity
Ofgem has confirmed that the first energy suppliers restarted involuntary prepayment meter installations in January 2024, after independent audits verified they met strengthened rules introduced in November 2023.
Good Energy launches Export Only tariff
Good Energy launched Export Only in January 2024, a 4p per kWh export tariff open to any household with a smart meter and a certified renewable installation, without requiring a Good Energy import deal.