Decision on implementing the CMA’s recommendation to remove the Whole of Market requirement

Decision

This letter confirms the outcome of Ofgem’s consultation on implementing the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) recommendation to remove the Whole of Market requirement from the Confidence Code.

Ofgem’s Confidence Code is a voluntary code of practice for domestic energy price comparison websites (PCWs) whose aim is to help consumers feel confident about the advice that they receive when using an accredited PCW to switch energy suppliers.

In August 2016, Ofgem published the Confidence Code Review 2016 in response to the CMA’s recommendation for Ofgem to remove rules from the Code that oblige accredited PCWs to show a wide range of energy tariffs on the market, not just those that can be switched to through their website. These rules are collectively known as the Whole of Market requirement (the “WoM Requirement”). In July 2017, Ofgem made a decision to partially remove the WoM Requirement and assess the likely impacts of its full removal.

In May 2018 we then consulted on proposals to go further and remove the WoM requirement. This letter confirms the outcome of that consultation.