Ofgem to revoke URE Energy’s electricity licence

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Ofgem is to revoke URE Energy’s licence to supply electricity after the supplier failed to meets its Renewables Obligation for 2017-2018.

URE Energy failed to meet its Renewables Obligation by not paying into the buy-out fund by 31 August 2018, or presenting Renewables Obligation Certificates by 1 September 2018, or by making a late payment by 31 October 2018.

Ofgem previously gave notice to URE Energy and Eversmart Energy to deliver all outstanding Renewables Obligation payments by 31 March 2019 through monthly instalments. URE Energy failed to make any payments and was issued with a final order to make the payments.

URE Energy failed to comply with the final order, which required a payment of £209,013.78. Subsequently Ofgem is revoking its licence to supply electricity.

Under the government’s Renewables Obligation scheme, suppliers, such as URE, who do not source the required proportion of electricity from renewable sources have to pay into a buy-out fund administered by Ofgem.

For 2018-2019, suppliers have until 31 August 2019 to meet their obligation or can pay the amount owed plus interest within the late payment window until 31 October 2019.

If suppliers fail to meet their obligation, Ofgem can take action.

Last year, Ofgem opened investigations into Economy Energy and Spark Energy over their non-payment. Both have since exited the market.

Eversmart Energy paid what it owed after Ofgem gave the supplier notice to make its payment before 31 March 2019.   

Notes to editors

  • Ofgem has also published a notice of revocation URE's gas supply licence on the grounds it has not commenced supply within the period specified in it's licence
  • Both notices will take effect as of 14 September 2019.
  • In February 2019, Ofgem consulted on a final order to URE for its non-payment of its Renewables Obligation. The order was issued in March 2019.
  • In November 2018, Ofgem gave notice to URE Energy to deliver all outstanding payments through monthly instalments by 31 March 2019. 
  • URE Energy has been in contravention of article 7 of the Renewable Obligation Orders, following its failure to meet the 31 August 2018 deadline and the 31 October 2018 late payment deadline. 
  • The Renewables Obligation scheme is a government scheme to support large-scale renewable electricity projects in the UK. It places an obligation on UK electricity suppliers to source an increasing proportion of the electricity they supply from renewable sources. Ofgem administers the scheme on behalf of government.

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