Energy Gospelling: Ofgem Hits Three Firms for a Bizarre Franchise Fiasco
Ever heard of rival businesses secretly passing customer secrets like it’s a crime‑fighting exchange program? That’s exactly what Ofgem found out—ultra‑sensitive meter data was swapped between E (Gas & Electricity) Limited, Economy Energy, and Dyball Associates in a deal that feels more like a plot twist in a soap opera than a normal market collaboration.
What Went Wrong… and Why It’s So Bad
- Secret Sharing – The trio jumbled up sensitive meter‑point info, giving each other inside knowledge they shouldn’t have.
- No Competition – They agreed not to chase each other’s customers, creating a small “black market” where the best prices got stuck behind a wall.
- Dyball’s Role – Acting as the middleman, Dyball forgot the simplest rule: everyone’s supposed to have the same tea? I mean, same chances.
How Much of a Mess?
Dyball Associates – £20,000 (the “just‑a‑little‑sum” that’s oddly watery but honestly enough for the fine‑tidy kind of… you know)
Economy Energy – £200,000 (a tidy chunk that feels like a grocery bill for a whole city)
E (Gas & Electricity) Limited – £650,000 (the heavyweight champion of fines, or at least a heavyweight of money)
Ofgem’s director of conduct and enforcement, Anthony Pygram, put it in a one‑liner: “Customers should have an opportunity to switch to other suppliers and should not be prevented from doing so by anti‑competitive agreements.” Cue the sigh.
Why Customers Feel Fretful
When two suppliers ditch their appetite to swing at each other’s customers, they essentially keep half of the grid in a “locked” state. If you’re one of those unsuspecting folks who can’t sniff out a better offer because the data war is on, you’re basically stuck with whatever price the gatekeepers hand you.
Ofgem’s Claw‑back: A Clear Warning
The regulator’s declaration is a call‑out: “This enforcement action sends a strong signal… we will take action and penalise those who undermine competition.” In plain English, suppliers who’re outmaneuvering each other in the wrong rooms shouldn’t expect anyone to stay handed over to whatever shady mailbox they fancy.
So keep your eye on the market, folks. Good competition means good deals. Bad shenanigans mean you might as well start chewing on a plastic bag of prices.
