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Retail Market Review 

Building on the findings of our 2008 Energy Supply Probe, on 26 November 2010 Ofgem announced the Retail Market Review - an investigation into the markets for electricity and gas for households and small businesses in Great Britain. In March 2011, we published our findings and initial proposals.

We find that further action is needed to make energy retail markets in Great Britain work more effectively in the interests of consumers. Consumers are at risk from a number of features in the market which reduce the effectiveness of competition.

We set out our proposals for action. These are designed to make it much easier for consumers to identify who is offering the cheapest tariff; make it easier for new suppliers to enter the market; enforce and strengthen Probe remedies in both the domestic and non-domestic market; and increase the transparency of company accounting practices.

Our proposal to make new entry easier is to improve the ability of the wholesale power market to meet independent participants’ needs. We suggest intervention to improve liquidity, and outline what this would look like. Therefore our March consultation document is also an important next step in our ongoing Liquidity work.

Following the close of the RMR initial proposals consultation in June 2011 we began consulting on a set of proposed remedies for the non-domestic and domestic retail market. The non-domestic consultation closed on 15 February 2012 and the domestic consultation closed on 23 February 2012.

We would prefer to implement reform wherever appropriate with the cooperation of the supply companies. If, following the outcome of our consultative process, we consider that reforms do not have a realistic chance of addressing the concerns identified due to industry opposition or otherwise, we will consider a referral to the Competition Commission.

Our consultation document, supplementary appendices and associated research and discussion papers are available below. 



DateTitle (Click for more document information)
01/05/2012Improving the Reporting Transparency of Large Energy Suppliers
- (Reference number: 64/12)
27/04/2012Statutory notice of proposed modifications of Standard Licence Condition 25A (SLC 25A) of the gas and electricity domestic supply licences
- (Reference number: 61/12)
20/04/2012Liquidity consultation: voluntary request for information on platform delivery
- (Reference number: 59/12)
24/02/2012Consultation on the Undue Discrimination Prohibition standard licence condition
- (Reference number: 23/11)
22/02/2012Retail Market Review: Intervention to enhance liquidity in the GB power market
- (Reference number: 21/12)
06/02/2012The Standardised Element of Standard Tariffs under the Retail Market Review
- (Reference number: 11/12)
31/01/2012Financial Information Reporting: 2010 Results
- (Reference number: 10/12)
31/01/2012Improving Reporting Transparency
- (Reference number: 09/12)
01/12/2011The Retail Market Review: Domestic Proposals
- (Reference number: 166/11)
23/11/2011The Retail Market Review: Non-domestic Proposals
- (Reference number: 157/11)
22/06/2011Ofgem’s Retail Market Review – update and next steps (non-liquidity proposals)
22/06/2011Ofgem’s Retail Market Review – update and next steps (liquidity proposals)
22/06/2011GB wholesale market electricity: summer 2011 assessment
- (Reference number: 82/11)
23/05/2011Financial Information Reporting: Amended Guidance
- (Reference number: 69/11)
24/03/2011Financial Information Reporting: 2009 Results
- (Reference number: 41/11)
21/03/2011The Retail Market Review - Findings and initial proposals
- (Reference number: 34/11)
21/03/2011What can behavioural economics say about GB energy consumers?
21/03/2011Do energy bills respond faster to rising costs than falling costs?