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Energy: How are UK electricity and gas prices regulated?

Reading time: 2 mins

UK gas and electricity companies are carefully regulated to ensure that customers’ needs come first. It is essential that such a large and competitive market be regulated to protect customers when things go wrong, to safeguard the environment, to protect natural resources and to help to keep electricity and gas prices fair.

 electricity and gas prices

The regulatory bodies

The following table lays out the gas and electricity regulatory bodies in the UK and how to get in touch:

Regulatory Body

What do they do?

Who do they help?

Contact

OFGEM

Official independent body for both gas and electricity. They have stringent environmental targets that energy suppliers must meet, ensure good customer service is maintained, resolve complaints and keep the price of gas and electricity competitive.

The consumer. They also have protection policies in place for business gas and electricity customers, for example against misleading sales practices.

www.ofgem.gov.uk

Consumer affairs hotline 0207 901 7295

Energy Ombudsman

Independent government body that can help to settle disputes over energy bills.

Private and commercial customers. Service is free of charge.

www.ombudsman-services.org

Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC)

Governmental department which sets energy policy and targets in the UK.

Consumers, gas & electricity suppliers and OFGEM.

www.decc.gov.uk

ELEXON

Regulates the infrastructure and pricing of buying and selling electricity by managing the Balancing and Settlement Code.

The entire electricity industry.

www.elexon.co.uk

Consumer Focus

Watchdog for consumer affairs across a range of industries. They provide free and impartial advice on gas and electricity suppliers and guidance on energy saving and making complaints.

Consumers.

www.cas.org.uk

Call 020 7799 7900 for London office.

Citizens Advice Bureau

One stop shop for free independent advice.

Customers

www.citizensadvice.org.uk

or offices nationwide.

Keeping electricity and gas prices fair

One thing these regulatory bodies all have in common is striving for transparency and fairness in the way the energy market is run and price decisions are reached. This can only be good news for the consumer.  Gas and electricity tariffs are often a contentious issue, as it is an essential commodity for our homes and businesses. If you do have a complaint or would like independent advice, these regulators are an excellent place to start.