Final energy market reforms published by CMA

The CMA has concluded its energy market investigation setting out a wide range of reforms to modernise the market for the benefit of customers.

Over 30 measures will be brought in after the most comprehensive investigation into the energy market since privatisation. These will drive down costs by increasing competition between suppliers and helping customers switch to better deals. They will also bring in technical and regulatory changes to modernise the market and ensure it works in consumers’ interests.

The CMA published a short overview of its investigation, a summary of the report itself and a range of other materials for consumers and businesses together with its final report.

The investigation has found that 70% of domestic customers of the 6 largest energy firms are still on an expensive ‘default’ standard variable tariff. As these customers could potentially save over £300 by switching to a cheaper deal, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will enable more of them to take advantage.

The options to switch are far more limited for the 4 million households on prepayment meters. For these customers, a transitional price cap will be introduced which will reduce bills by around £300 million a year. The cheapest tariffs for such customers are currently £260 to £320 a year more expensive than those available for direct debit customers. The price cap will remain in place until the introduction of smart meters removes the limitations on such customers accessing better deals.

The CMA is also introducing a range of measures to revitalise competition and reduce the costs borne by customers. These include pressing ahead with reforming outdated systems for measuring and charging energy that distort competition between suppliers, reducing the costs of transmitting electricity and using competition to help ensure that financial support for low carbon generation is allocated at the lowest cost to customers.

In addition price comparison websites (PCWs) will also be enabled to play a more active role in helping customers find the best offers for them and given access to meter data which will enable customers to search instantly for deals.

The measures will also tackle specific issues faced by microbusinesses; these are business who employ fewer than 10 people; 45% of which are on default tariffs. Suppliers will now be required to publish their prices for such customers and will no longer be able to lock them into expensive ‘rollover’ contracts.

Ofgem will also be given much greater influence over the detailed codes that govern the working of the market – and which currently give undue influence to established industry participants over decisions that affect competition and consumers – and more powers to enable it to scrutinise the performance of the market and suppliers as well as the impact of policy.

Roger Witcomb, Chairman of the energy market investigation, said:

Competition is working well for some customers in this market – but nowhere near enough of them. Our measures will help more customers get a better deal and put in place a modernised energy market equipped for the future.

With far too many customers paying hundreds of pounds more than they need to, they will be alerted to the better value deals out there and it will be easier for them to identify a good deal and switch to it. Those that can help with this process, like price comparison websites, will be given the ability to play a more active role. In other markets, they’ve played a big part in driving down prices, increasing switching and enabling suppliers of all sizes to reach customers and, freed up, they can do the same here.

Customers will become more active and will not only save themselves money but keep suppliers on their toes; they will do this by addressing many of the problems identified by the CMA. There are promising signs in this market with smaller suppliers getting more of a foothold and making it easier for customers to get involved which will push things quickly in the right direction.

For any customers who are on prepayment meters who will find it harder to switch, the prices will be capped until the time prepayment meter customers can benefit from the competition. In addition to helping customers switch, there are many other things that need to be done to make the energy market work better over the coming years and address all those elements that contribute to the final bill for customers. Modernising the market will equip it to meet future challenges and allow it to take full advantage of the forthcoming advances in technology, such as smart meters, which have the potential to transform the way we use energy.

As part of this, we’re going to strengthen the ability of Ofgem to push through change, to keep the market and suppliers under the microscope and to scrutinise government policies. Climate change and energy policies having an increasingly large effect on bills, it’s essential that decisions, particularly on support for new forms of generation, are made – and seen to be made – in the best interests of customers.

It is believed measures alongside other future developments will mean energy customers see real improvements over the years ahead.

The changes will be accomplished via a combination of CMA Orders and recommendations to Ofgem and government. The CMA will shortly publish a timetable setting out a remedies implementation process over the next 6 months. All information published in relation to the investigation is available on the energy market investigation case page.