Energy market investigation

The CMA investigated the supply and acquisition of energy in Great Britain and has published its final orders and undertakings.

Government response to the findings

26 February 2018: The Secretary of State for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy, and Minister of State for Energy and Clean Growth have responded on behalf of the government to the energy market investigation findings.

Remedies implementation

Timetable

Statutory deadline for implementing remedial action: 23.12.16

Full remedies implementation timetable (11.7.16)

Contact

Email: energymarket@cma.gsi.gov.uk

Final undertakings

The Energy Market Investigation (Gas Tariff Codes) Undertakings 2016

Final orders

The Energy Market Investigation (Database) Order 2016

The Energy Market Investigation (ECOES/DES) Order 2016

The Energy Market Investigation (Gas Settlement) Order 2016

The Energy Market Investigation (Microbusinesses) Order 2016

The Energy Market Investigation (Restricted Meters) Order 2016

The Energy Market Investigation (Electricity Transmission Losses) Order 2016

The Energy Market Investigation (Prepayment Charge Restriction) Order 2016

Responses to formal consultation on draft orders

Responses to the draft database order

Responses to the draft gas settlement order

Responses to the draft ECOES/DES order

Responses to the draft restricted meters order

Responses to the draft microbusinesses order

Responses to the draft prepayment charge restriction order

Responses to the draft electricity transmission losses order

Responses to formal consultation on the draft gas tariff codes undertakings

Further consultation on electricity transmission losses order

Formal consultation on draft energy market remedies: undertakings

Formal consultation on draft energy market remedies: orders

The Energy Market Investigation (Database) Order 2016

The Energy Market Investigation (ECOES/DES) Order 2016

The Energy Market Investigation (Gas Settlement) Order 2016

The Energy Market Investigation (Microbusinesses) Order 2016

The Energy Market Investigation (Restricted Meters) Order 2016

The Energy Market Investigation (Prepayment Charge Restriction) Order 2016

The Energy Market Investigation (Electricity Transmission Losses) Order 2016

CMA response to Ofgem consultation on remedies implementation

Phase 2

Timetable

Date of referral: 26.6.14

Statutory deadline: 25.6.16

Full case timetable (updated on 20.1.16)

Final report

Final report appendices and glossary

Domestic prepayment energy price cap: illustrative model

Responses to provisional decision on remedies

Hearing and meeting summaries post-provisional decision on remedies

Further submissions

Provisional decision on remedies

Full provisional decision on remedies report

Provisional decision on remedies appendices and glossary

Notices of intention

Responses to addendum to provisional findings and second supplemental notice of possible remedies

Addendum to provisional findings

16 December 2015: Following the publication of its provisional findings in July 2015, the CMA has further considered whether there are features of the GB energy markets relating to prepayment segments that restrict competition. The CMA has published an addendum to its provisional findings and a second supplemental notice of possible remedies. We welcome comments on both documents by 6 January 2016.

Evidence

The publication of the evidence of any party on the CMA’s webpages does not indicate in any way endorsement by the CMA of the views expressed in the evidence or acceptance of that evidence. Publication in this way is designed to assist public understanding of the issues.

Summaries of response hearings

Responses to the supplemental notice of possible remedies

Responses to provisional findings and notice of possible remedies

Responses to updated issues statement

Hearing summaries

As part of its evidence-gathering process, the CMA is holding formal hearings with a range of industry participants and interested parties.

Initial submissions

The CMA’s energy market investigation is independent and welcomes submissions from all interested parties.

Provisional findings and possible remedies

Full provisional findings report

Appendices and Glossary

Analysis

The updated issues statement and working papers are published to invite comments and assist the inquiry group to develop its thinking on key areas. They should not be considered as containing the group’s definitive views. For further information see the CMA’s market investigation guidelines.

Updated issues statement

Working papers

Customer survey: CMA commissioned research

Energy market investigation updates

External advisers

Research with tenants: invitation to comment

7 October 2015: The CMA has appointed Ipsos MORI to conduct, on its behalf, research with domestic energy customers in Great Britain who are tenants. The research will be used to understand the perceived or actual barriers to switching supplier that may be experienced by tenants, including contractual restrictions associated with tenancy agreements and other barriers to switching which may limit tenants’ ability to engage in the energy market.

We welcome comments on the proposed methodology and draft of the questionnaire to be used.

Survey of domestic customers of energy suppliers

Invitation to comment on draft customer survey questionnaire

8 September 2014: Further to the CMA’s notice of 25 July and 4 September (below) on its decision to conduct a survey of domestic customers of energy suppliers in Great Britain, the CMA now welcomes comments on the draft of the questionnaire to be used in the survey.

Market research agency appointment

4 September 2014: Further to the CMA’s notice of 25 July 2014 (below), the CMA has now appointed market research agency GfK NOP Ltd (GfK), to conduct a survey of domestic customers of energy suppliers in Great Britain. The CMA also invites comments on the outline design for the survey.

Invitation to comment on research agencies

25 July 2014: As part of its investigation into the energy market, the CMA is considering engaging a market research agency to carry out research. We have identified a number of firms to undertake this research and comments are invited on potential conflicts of interest or any other restriction on the firms’ suitability to carry out the work.

Issues statement

24 July 2014: The issues statement sets out the scope of the energy market investigation. It outlines initial theories on what might be adversely affecting competition and what the resulting effects could be for customers. It doesn’t set out findings or conclusions.

Terms of reference

21 July 2014: The CMA published Ofgem’s terms of reference for the CMA’s investigation.

Market investigation reference group appointed

1 July 2014: The CMA appointed the market investigation reference group.

Roger Witcomb (Chairman), Lesley Ainsworth, Martin Cave, Malcolm Nicholson and Robert Spedding.

Case opened

Press release: Energy market referred to CMA (26.6.14)

Phase 1

Please see the joint review of competition in the energy market case page for more information.

On 26 June 2014, Ofgem announced its final decision to refer the energy market in the UK to the CMA for a market investigation. Having considered responses to the consultation, Ofgem remained of the view that there were reasonable grounds for suspecting that features of the energy market were preventing, restricting or distorting competition.

On 27 March 2014, following a joint assessment of competition in the energy market by Ofgem, the Office of Fair Trading and the Competition and Markets Authority, Ofgem published a consultation document setting out its provisional decision to refer the energy market in the UK to the CMA and opened a public consultation. The consultation document identified a number of features, based on the joint assessment, that Ofgem suspected were - either individually or in combination - preventing, restricting or distorting competition in this market. The public consultation closed on 23 May 2014.

Published 9 February 2016
Last updated 27 February 2018 + show all updates
  1. Link to government response to energy market investigation findings published.

  2. Letter added under 'The Energy Market Investigation (ECOES/DES) Order 2016’.

  3. Explanatory note to the database order updated.

  4. Final undertakings and summary of responses published.

  5. Final orders and summaries of responses published.

  6. Responses to draft orders published.

  7. Network cost calculations spreadsheet correction note added and illustrative price cap model updated.

  8. Final order and summary of responses published.

  9. Responses to draft orders published.

  10. Responses to draft orders published.

  11. Responses to draft orders and undertakings published.

  12. Responses to draft orders and undertakings published.

  13. Further consultation on draft order added.

  14. Consultation on draft undertakings launched.

  15. Consultation on further draft orders added.

  16. Consultation on draft orders launched.

  17. CMA response to Ofgem consultation added.

  18. Remedies implementation timetable published.

  19. Full final report published.

  20. Summary of final report and summary of AECs and remedies published.

  21. Response to provisional decision on remedies published.

  22. Response to provisional decision on remedies and hearing summary published.

  23. Disclosure of interests updated (under 'Market investigation reference group appointed') and response to provisional decision on remedies and meeting summary published.

  24. Response to provisional decision on remedies published.

  25. Further submissions and response to provisional decision on remedies published.

  26. Responses to provisional decision on remedies published.

  27. Updated response to provisional decision on remedies published.

  28. Responses to provisional decision on remedies published.

  29. Summary of response hearing, further submission and response to provisional findings and notice of possible remedies published.

  30. Appendices and glossary to the provisional decision on remedies published.

  31. Full provisional decision on remedies report published.

  32. Notice of intention published.

  33. Summary of provisional decision on remedies and summary of AECs and remedies published.

  34. Further submissions published.