DESNZ Consultation Response: a new threshold for businesses accessing the Energy Ombudsman

DESNZ Consultation Response: a new threshold for businesses accessing the Energy Ombudsman 114 KB

Citizens Advice agrees with the proposal to extend the eligibility threshold to allow small businesses to access the Energy Ombudsman. Small businesses often experience similar issues to microbusinesses as energy consumers but lack opportunities for redress. Expanding the eligibility threshold should allow for financial recourse for small businesses while driving up standards across the industry as suppliers seek to avoid cases being brought to the Ombudsman by their customers. 

Citizens Advice agrees with the combination of employee numbers, annual turnover and annual consumption levels as threshold indicators. This allows a greater variety of small businesses to access the Energy Ombudsman than requiring all three thresholds to be met. We think the proposed energy consumption levels are set at the right level.

We also agree that the introduction of a new threshold allowing small businesses to access the Energy Ombudsman should be mirrored in Ofgem’s proposed changes. We have responded to Ofgem’s consultation supporting the expansion of consumer protections to small business consumers.