Select committee: Industry and Regulators Committee
Conclusion 23
1st Report - The net zero transformation: delivery, regulation and the consumer
Published 4 Mar 2022
Paragraph 208
Industry and Regulators Committee Ofgem and net zero All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
Becoming a more adaptive regulator must not come at the expense of consumer protection. The recent collapse of a large number of suppliers has highlighted substantial failings on the part of Ofgem. We welcome Ofgem’s recognition that change is needed to restore trust in the retail energy market and urge the regulator to prioritise the introduction of a robust regulatory framework akin to the financial services sector for energy companies holding large amounts of customer money, including adequate capital requirements and a fit and proper persons test. Nonetheless, the regulator must be careful to strike the right balance between resilience and innovation, ensuring that new requirements do not preclude new entrants and business models from the retail energy market.
From: Industry and Regulators Committee, 1st Report - The net zero transformation: delivery, regulation and the consumer, paragraph 208, 4 March 2022
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 27 May 2022 (deadline 25 May 2022).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government sets out actions across the report's themes, declining to target a specific 2050 energy mix and to add a net zero duty for Ofgem, while agreeing with the committee on the retail market and consumer engagement.
- On a roadmap to net zero, it says the exact 2050 technology and energy mix "cannot be known now". It commits to a public update every year from 2022 on progress against the Net Zero Strategy pathway.
- On Ofgem, it says "A new duty is not necessary", stating that the duty to protect consumers' interests already includes reducing emissions in line with net zero. It has committed to consulting on a Strategy and Policy Statement for Ofgem "later this year".
- On a net zero taskforce, it states that "Our current governance arrangements are effective" and describes existing ministerial committees. It is creating a Future System Operator with objectives set out in primary legislation.
- On the energy retail market, it says "We agree with this view" on consumer engagement. It will refresh the retail market strategy, aiming to publish an update "as soon as possible, once the market has stabilised".