Ofgem investigation
In February 2008, Ofgem launched an investigation into the structure of the energy supply market and whether it was operating effectively.
Their initial report, which was published in October, concluded that competition in the market was generating a wide range of tariffs and products and there was no evidence of an energy supply market cartel.
However, the report did find that some customers were not getting the full benefits of that competition – for example, people without access to the internet or bank accounts, and electricity-only customers.
Ofgem has proposed a number of solutions, including:
- ensuring that any price differentials between payment methods are cost reflective
- making it easier for people to compare tariffs
- better contract terms for business customers.
