Davey to host independent supplier summit
Energy and Climate Change Secretary Edward Davey is to chair a summit for independent energy suppliers to discuss the barriers to new entrants…
Energy and Climate Change Secretary Edward Davey is to chair a summit for independent energy suppliers to discuss the barriers to new entrants into the UK retail energy market.
Mr Davey will host the meeting at the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s Whitehall HQ tomorrow (Thursday 29 November), with representatives expected to attend from Co-operative Energy, Cornwall Energy Associates, Ecotricity, First Utility, Good Energy, Haven Power, Loco2 Energy, Opus Energy, OVO, Smartest Energy, Spark Energy, Utilita, and Ofgem.
Edward Davey said:
“I want our energy market to be as competitive as possible. That is central to ensuring that our households and businesses can get the best deals for their gas and electricity, and that’s why I want to be sure that we make it as easy as possible for new players to break into the UK market, and that if there are any barriers to that, we do everything we can to remove them.
“As a long-time proponent of collective purchasing, I am delighted to see some of the smaller suppliers already winning customers through early collective switching initiatives, and that such schemes are helping them grow their customer base more rapidly.”
Areas of discussion are likely to focus on the obstacles facing independent suppliers to breaking into the UK energy market and growing their market share. The Secretary of State also wants to take the opportunity to sound out independent suppliers on the Department’s proposals to reform the electricity market and proposals to legislate in the Energy Bill to ensure customers are on the cheapest tariffs.
Last year the Coalition Government cut red tape for small energy suppliers, exempting them from participation in CERT and CESP by raising the threshold for participation from 50,000 to 250,000 customers
This event follows previous engagement with independent suppliers, including the July 2011 ministerial meeting with small energy suppliers
On 23 November 2012 the Government announced, ahead of publication of the Energy Bill later this week, a landmark agreement on energy policy that will deliver a clear, durable signal to investors
On 20 November 2012 the Government set out proposals to help ensure all households are on the best deal for their gas and electricity