Part 3: Regulation of Gas and Electricity Markets Adjustment of energy charges Summary and Background
127.In 2008, a market probe by Ofgem(19) into the energy supply markets for domestic and small business customers found that, in general, the ‘big six’ suppliers(20) were acting competitively. The probe did identify, amongst other concerns, that energy suppliers have consistently earned significantly higher margins for electricity supply than for gas supply in the period 2005-07 and that this difference in margins was not justified by cost differentials. Ofgem noted that in effect this represents a large difference in prices offered to ‘dual fuel’ customers (those who buy electricity and gas from the same supplier) compared to those who source their electricity and gas from separate suppliers, or do not have access to the gas grid.
128.Ofgem has introduced (with effect from 1 September 2009) a modification to the standard conditions of the gas and electricity supply licences held by suppliers with over 50,000 household customers to deal with these concerns by prohibiting undue discrimination in terms and conditions offered to customers(21),(22),(23). This licence condition will expire on 31 July 2012 – a reflection of Ofgem’s expectation that the full package of measures proposed(24) to deal with concerns raised by the probe will have improved competition in the energy market to the extent that the licence condition is no longer necessary. Ofgem will, however, keep the situation under review.
129.Sections 41A and 41B of the Gas Act 1986 and sections 43A and 43B of the Electricity Act 1989 contain powers (not used to date) to allow the Secretary of State to adjust charges for gas or charges for electricity to help customers who are treated less favourably than others by their supplier. These powers do not currently allow the Secretary of State to intervene in cases where suppliers appear to be cross-subsidising their gas businesses from their electricity businesses and where, consequently, electricity-only customers are being treated less favourably, facing excessive prices not justified by cost differentials. This means that if Ofgem had not taken the action described above, the Secretary of State would have been unable to step in and the situation would not have been addressed.
130.These sections replace the powers in sections 41A and 41B of the Gas Act 1986 and sections 43A and 43B of the Electricity Act 1989. These new powers are derived from the pre-existing powers, but are amended to enable the Secretary of State to deal with situations where energy suppliers treat customers less favourably according to the type of energy supplied.