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No energy bill price cap this winter, Ofgem says No energy bill price cap this winter, Ofgem says
(35 minutes later)
A price cap on energy bills proposed by the prime minister last week is unlikely to take effect before winter.A price cap on energy bills proposed by the prime minister last week is unlikely to take effect before winter.
Theresa May had promised to revive a plan to cap charges for an extra 12 million consumers. Theresa May had vowed to revive a plan to cap charges for an extra 12 million consumers.
However, Ofgem said it would have to wait for legislation to be in force before it was able to take action on standard variable tariffs. However, Ofgem said it would have to wait for legislation to be in force before it could take action on standard variable tariffs.
Until then a more limited price cap will be extended to another one million low income households, Ofgem said. Until then a more limited price cap will cover another one million low income households, the regulator said.
Restrictions on the cost of gas and electricity for those with pre-payment meters already saves some four million households about £80 a year. Last week Business Secretary Greg Clark said a gas and electricity price cap could be imposed as early as this winter should Ofgem decide to use its powers.
The regulator wants to extend the scheme to about two million other people who get certain benefits. The BBC understands that Ofgem is reluctant to do so because it believes energy companies could challenge its decision.
Dermot Nolan, chief executive of Ofgem, said it agreed with the government that the energy market was not working for all consumers and was "determined to help those overpaying for their energy, particularly those who are vulnerable".
Ofgem will wait for draft legislation for a price cap to head off any possible challenges by energy firms.
A Department for Business spokesperson said draft legislation on an energy price cap for default tariffs would be introduced this week.A Department for Business spokesperson said draft legislation on an energy price cap for default tariffs would be introduced this week.
The legislative process could take as long as a year, and then a further two months for Ofgem to implement a cap.
Who benefits this winter?
One million households who get the Warm Home Discount will see an energy price cap from February - an extension of the cap already in place for prepayment meter customers. This will also apply to another two million vulnerable households the following winter.
What is a standard variable tariff?
When customers' fixed-term deals end they usually automatically move to this tariff, which applies to 12 million households. Ofgem says the price difference between the average standard variable tariff default deal from the six largest suppliers and the cheapest rate in the market recently hit more than £300.
What does the government want to do?
It has revived a plan to cap these variable tariffs, overseen by Ofgem, but the regulator says this will not happen until new legislation has been passed by Parliament. It is unclear just how long this will take.
What happens in the meantime?
Some suppliers are moving towards abandoning variable tariffs. Ofgem has also changed the rules to allow suppliers to default customers on to another fixed deal - but only if it does not include any penalties for switching away, is the same price or cheaper than the variable rate, and is similar in nature to their previous deal. Customers are still likely to be better off by searching and switching themselves, however.
Dermot Nolan, the regulator's chief executive, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that energy firms should be doing more to move people off standard variable tariffs.
"I would challenge the entire industry to say the standard variable tariffs are not good deals. The ball in some senses is in your court - do more," he said.
E.on and Scottish Power have made some progress, but Mr Nolan asked: "What about the other companies? I challenge them to prove that they can get their customers off these standard variable tariffs onto better deals."
Michael Lewis, UK chief executive of E.on, claimed the retail energy market was working well.Michael Lewis, UK chief executive of E.on, claimed the retail energy market was working well.
"We've got 60 competitors in the market with new entrants approaching 20% market share, we've got high levels of switching, with 3.5 million customers switching so far this year, which is a significant increase on 2016," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "We've got 60 competitors in the market with new entrants approaching 20% market share, we've got high levels of switching, with 3.5 million customers switching so far this year, which is a significant increase on 2016," he told Today.
Mr Lewis reinterated E.on's plans to move all customers off its standard variable tariff from next year.Mr Lewis reinterated E.on's plans to move all customers off its standard variable tariff from next year.
Ofgem said extending the more limited price cap to one million more households will save them £120 a year on average.
Restrictions on the cost of gas and electricity for those with pre-payment meters already saves some four million households about £80 a year.
The regulator wants to extend the scheme to about two million other people who get certain benefits.