Ofgem is exploring alternative models for how it regulates the network companies. We agree that the pace and scale of investment needed in electricity networks means new approaches may be needed. However we are concerned that this sort of radical review risks creating a hiatus when we do not have the time.
There is a received wisdom in orthodox economics and treasury theology that argues against governments ‘picking winners’. The classic example that this is not a good idea would be Concorde – a winner ‘picked’ by the UK and French governments which went massively overbudget, and never succeeded in claiming more than a very small niche market with few commercial spin-offs.
The Mail on Sunday's recent article “Hard-up customers of energy firm OVO hit with shock emails telling them to pay hundreds of pounds in unexpected charges[1]” is a stark reminder of two glaring problems in the energy industry. Firstly, Ofgem needs to deliver on its promise to strengthen back-billing protections for customers. Secondly, smart meters need to deliver on their promise of accurate bills.
We welcome Ofgem’s consultation on approaches to local energy institutions and governance but would like Ofgem to think more deeply about the practical reality that local actors face in delivering net-zero. This includes Ofgem taking a far broader view of what ‘good outcomes’ look like in an energy world where place matters. We also want more discussion on how the Future System Operator is best-suited to the role of regional energy-system planner and market facilitator.
This was the second End User Forum in response to REMA. The aim of the forum, held in April 2023, was to understand attendees' views on different options for passing through locational signals to end users, if at all. Discussions focussed on the different ways signals could be passed through and fairness considerations.
We set out the different ways in which innovation could be encouraged in the utilities sector, distinguishing between three different timeframes and addressing technological, consumer facing, process based, commercial and institutional aspects, that all are important in the energy, water and telecoms sectors.
As the Government develops its review of Economic Regulation, many of the lessons from our report on policy and regulation of utilities from two years ago still hold true; the need for an overhaul of regulatory processes to take account of long-term issues remains vital
As part of its Review of Economic Regulation the government is considering reforming the appeals process for regulated utilities. This collection of articles written over a five-year period provides a blow by blow commentary by Maxine Frerk on appeals that have taken place across energy and water – drawing out lessons and bringing to life issues that government has raised.
New Economic Foundation’s Chaitanya Kumar leads work on the think tank’s Green New Deal, just transition and other environmental programmes. Here he talks about the role of incumbents and the vital role of fairness in addressing climate change.
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