MSE News: Ofgem proposes new tests for energy suppliers to get licences

Former_MSE_Callum

New energy suppliers may have to pass financial and customer service tests in order to obtain a licence, the energy regulator has said...

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'Ofgem proposes new tests for energy suppliers to get licences'

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System

Oh MSE - you really need to do your research. This change is not down to MSE or ML: that said, I do not doubt that the added pressure helped. I think that Citizens Advice may have been there first: but we really shouldn’t let the facts get in the way of another MSE success!

https://wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/to-supply-or-not-supply-7e2b5ea5dc5f

Quote: GB Energy’s failure has highlighted Citizens Advice’s long standing concerns about the licensing process in the energy market. We think that there need to be more checks and balances put in place before companies start supplying this essential service to households. Unquote

Note the date: Feb 2017

Anthorn

I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for the customer service test: It would appear that the Big Six have already failed in customer service so does it mean that new energy suppliers will need to have better procedures than the Big Six? Comes across to me as dice which are heavily loaded.

What really needs to be done is to appraise unrealistic low prices. At this time suppliers either maintain their low prices and go bust or increase their prices, lose their customers and still go bust. There is a third option as with Outfox which enforces prepayment of energy a la Powershop.

Personally, I don't envy whoever's job it is to construct these tests and then to answer inquiries when the new procedures fail.

MothballsWallet

Ofgem's customer service test: how many packs of custard creams can the supplier bring to our offices and we can eat before we puke violently all over our office carpets that are paid for by the taxpayer?

D_M_E

Why pick on custard creams?

joe134

Ofgem have to be seen to do something to warrant their existence and big bucks, even if it is only a whitewash.