In July the regulator set out its plans to clamp down on rogue energy suppliers and make it easier for businesses to make a complaint about their behaviour following a sharp rise in commercial energy bills.
Trade body UKHospitality has been urging Ofgem to act on its plans and in August called on operators to respond to the consultation and back its #FiveAsksForOfgem campaign. More than 350 hospitality businesses, representing thousands of venues, have now presented a united front to the energy regulator, it says, demonstrating the urgent need to implement the recommendations set out in its review of the non-domestic energy market.
In the review, Ofgem made a series of recommendations and proposed regulation changes in a bid to better protect customers in the non-domestic sector and hold suppliers to account. They include changes to the regulatory framework to require timely responses to complaints and stepped-up reporting to Ofgem on complaint handling; and proposals to increase transparency of third-party intermediary (TPI) commissions for all customers.
Ofgem says it believes its new policy proposals are ‘proportionate’ and ‘will hold suppliers to account while bringing positive benefits to non-domestic consumers’. It had given businesses a deadline of today (6 September) to provide feedback on the proposals.
“The sheer devastation of the energy crisis has brought to light the need to fix the uncompetitive and wholly unfair business energy market. Critical feedback from UKHospitality and its members was a leading factor in hospitality being highlighted in Ofgem’s review and now is the time for decisive action,” says UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls.
“Ofgem and the Government should waste no time in implementing its own recommendations, and energy suppliers should heed this call to get their house in order and start treating hospitality businesses fairly.
“The strength of feeling demonstrated by the sector throughout this consultation shows just how desperately change is needed. A clear and direct communication to energy suppliers to help the worst affected businesses should be the immediate priority, particularly as we head into winter.
“There is also a clear role for government, which we highlighted in our response, to implement regulation to deliver better behaviour in the market, particularly when it comes to regulating brokers and widening access to the energy ombudsman.”
