Citizens Advice response to Ofgem’s Call for Input on the Non-Domestic gas and electricity market
Citizens Advice welcomes the opportunity to respond to this consultation as part of its statutory role to represent microbusiness energy customers in Great Britain.
The past three years have presented unique and abiding challenges for small businesses across GB, while the enduring effects of the energy price crisis will continue to present difficulties for the foreseeable future. Now is the right time to consider whether major changes are needed in the non-domestic retail market, to ensure good outcomes for consumers in the months and years ahead.
We have previously highlighted the harm caused by a lack of protection in some aspects of the non domestic market, including debt, disconnection and contracting issues, and are pleased to see Ofgem’s focus on these areas within this Call for Input. Overall the broad scope of the Call for Input and the three main themes identified are appropriate, considering the range of concerns previously voiced by ourselves and other stakeholders.
This Call for Input and Ofgem’s wider review of the non-domestic sector is an opportunity to level the playing field - stopping small businesses being exposed to the worst practice and standardising the best, to ensure the proper functioning of the non-domestic retail market.
We recognise that the non-domestic sector operates in a very different way to the domestic sector, and therefore must be regulated differently. However, we support Ofgem’s intention to utilise this Call for Input as an opportunity to review whether additional regulation or legislation is needed.