Domestic consumers with non-domestic energy supply contracts: call for evidence
Download the full outcome
Detail of outcome
The government response provides an overview of the issues raised by this group of consumers, and the actions being taken to address them. Issues raised include:
- a large increase in energy bills in 2022-2023 (not unique to this group as all consumers saw increases in their bills)
- not being able to arrange a repayment plan if they fall into debt, increasing the risk of disconnection
- not having access to their own meter, meaning this group can’t check if their energy bill accurately reflects their energy consumption
- difficulty accessing government support for which they are eligible (such as the Energy Bill Support Scheme Alternative Fund)
- most of this group can’t choose their own supply arrangements, so it can be harder to ensure they can access the services and support available to households that do have a direct supply relationship
There are no straightforward solutions to some of the issues flagged by respondents but the Department and Ofgem have taken action already to address some of the issues raised. We will consider whether any further action is needed once those actions have embedded.
Feedback
We received 725 responses from:
- residents in caravan parks and park homes
- tenants in large buildings / tenants renting from large landlords or companies
- heat network consumers
- residents in flats or apartments attached to a pub or other business
- residents in care homes
- residents in self-catering holiday accommodation
- residents in houseboats
- travelling communities
- tenants on all-inclusive rents (bills included in rent)
- consumer representative groups
- groups that represent these consumers
- landlords / landlord groups
- suppliers who provide electricity and gas for landlords to resell to their tenants
- energy suppliers who provide tariffs to landlords
Original call for evidence
Call for evidence description
This call for evidence aims to increase our understanding of domestic consumers who receive their energy via a non-domestic contract - defined as contracts which are typically used to serve non-residential properties, such as businesses or charities:
- the reasons for those arrangements
- what prices they face
The information you provide will help us determine if these consumers need any longer-term protections.
You are a domestic consumer if you are supplied or need to be supplied with gas or electricity at a domestic premise, for example your home.
Non-domestic energy contracts differ from domestic contracts in the following ways:
- non-domestic energy contracts are for a set period of time whereas domestic energy contracts are generally rolling - there is no end date. To avoid confusion with domestic fixed-term contracts this is only for the duration of the contract itself, the price is not fixed. (Note: there’s often a fixed period when signing up to a new domestic supplier, but once that expires, the contract starts to roll)
- cancellation terms - domestic contracts allow consumers to switch suppliers whenever they want. Consumers with non-domestic contracts do not have this option as they must stay with their supplier for the duration of their contract
- domestic contracts have a cooling off period, non-domestic energy contracts do not
We welcome responses from a wide range of people who have a non-domestic energy contract. In particular we are keen to hear from:
- residents in care homes
- tenants on all-inclusive rents (bills included in rent)
- tenants in large buildings / tenants renting from large landlords or companies
- residents in flats or apartments attached to a pub or other business
- residents in caravan parks and park homes
- residents in armed forces residential accommodation
- residents in houseboats
- residents in hospices
- residents in religious communities such as nunneries or monasteries
- residents in school and residential accommodation for students
- residents in self-catering holiday accommodation
- bill-splitters (defined as the division of a bill for service into 2 or more parts)
- landlords who supply energy to their tenants
- suppliers who provide tariffs to landlords
- travelling communities
- consumers on heat networks
- consumer representative groups
- groups that represent these consumers
We also welcome the views of those who supply energy to consumers and tenants, such as:
- landlords / landlord groups
- suppliers who provide electricity and gas for landlords to resell to their tenants
We are not considering the use of public electric vehicle charging in this call for evidence.
Documents
Last updated 5 April 2024 + show all updates
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Summary of responses published.
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First published.