Ofgem announcement on mid-point review for electricity distribution price control a “missed opportunity”, says Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice has responded to announcements by Ofgem that it will not open a mid-period review of the 2015-2023 electricity distribution price control and that Western Power Distribution (WPD) will return £77m to customers.

Victoria MacGregor, Director of Energy at Citizens Advice, said:

“Energy network companies are making billions in excess profits and it is consumers who are paying the price. Ofgem’s decision not to undertake a mid-point review of the current price controls for electricity distributors is disappointing.

“Today’s announcement was a missed opportunity for the regulator to put right decisions that have effectively handed these companies billions in unjustified profits. Electricity distributors have five more years of the current price controls, meaning five more years of excessive profits.

“We welcome the news that WPD will return £77m to consumers, but in future we shouldn’t have to rely on firms voluntarily returning money. The next set of price controls (RIIO2) must ensure that when infrastructure funding goes unspent, this money is automatically returned to consumers and bills are reduced”

Notes to editors

  1. Citizens Advice has a statutory role as the consumer advocate for energy consumers across the UK.

  2. The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local Citizens Advice, all of which are independent charities, the Citizens Advice consumer service and national charity Citizens Advice. Together we help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more see the Citizens Advice website .

  3. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.

  4. To get advice online or find your local Citizens Advice in England and Wales, visit citizensadvice.org.uk

  5. You can get consumer advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 or 03454 04 05 05 for Welsh language speakers.

  6. Local Citizens Advice in England and Wales advised 2.5 million clients on 6.2 million problems in 2014/15. For full service statistics see our publication  Advice trends .

  7. Citizens Advice service staff are supported by more than 21,000 trained volunteers, working at over 2,500 service outlets across England and Wales.