How much notice is needed for rate changes

Ruperts_Trooper

I understood that 30 days notice was required before change the rates - we've all heard about the big increase from 1st April but we're now only 25 days away from that and Octopus haven't announced their new rates for their Avro Flexible tariff - does this mean they can't implement any change on the 1st ?

QrizB

Ofgem only says "resonable notice".

Various suppliers are currently acting as though 21 days is reasonable.

If you have an authoritative source for 30 days - ideally on Ofgem-headed paper - it would be helpful if you could share it.

QrizB

See also page 5 of this Ofgem document, where the explicit requirement for 30 days' notice was removed from SLC 31I:
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/sites/default/files/docs/2018/12/guide_to_the_customer_communications_rule_changes.pdf

Ruperts_Trooper

Thank you for that.

[Deleted User]

Ofgem has a habit of introducing SLC changes ‘under the radar’. Yes, consultations with industry take place but, unless consumers regularly review the Ofgem website, these consultations pass most people by.

As it so happens, this particular SLC change will have no impact on consumers. The SLC is written to cover disadvantageous single variations of contract ( a price hike et al). Provided a supplier gives enough notice for a consumer to do nothing; change to another tariff with the same supplier, or switch away (which will most likely have 20 day tariff protection) then the consumer is protected.

Whether there is a moral argument to make these change announcements earlier in difficult market conditions is something worthy of debate.