30 September 2022 | Comment | Article by Neil Stockdale

Energy bills – landmark change on 1 October to remove hidden charges to businesses

Saturday 1 October 2022, we will see a landmark change in the energy market.

Many businesses instruct brokers to procure their gas and electricity supply but, what many brokers fail to tell their business clients, is that they are being paid a commission which is linked to that business’s consumption, and which is paid by that business through their energy bills.

From 1 October, businesses will be able to request details of commissions paid or payable to brokers, via their energy supply contracts, directly from their energy supplier.

This change, instigated by OFGEM as part of its 2022 decision and package of reforms, will help eradicate the hidden commission practices of countless brokers within the market.

We act on behalf of many businesses who seek to recover undisclosed commissions paid to brokers. Claims range considerably in value, but it’s not uncommon to see commission charges making up over 25% of a business’s spending on energy without their knowledge.

Our specialist energy claims lawyers have acted for businesses in a number of different sectors – including football clubs, agriculture, manufacturing, distilleries, and publishing. They are dealing with claims ranging from £10,000 to £1m.

The team are now encouraging micro-businesses to make use of the new reforms, launched tomorrow, to request details of commissions they’ve paid, and seek redress where appropriate.

Commenting on tomorrow’s landmark change, Neil Stockdale, Partner and Head of Financial Mis-selling at Hugh James, said:

“This change couldn’t happen at a more critical time for small businesses. The cost-of-living crisis and spiralling energy costs are putting so many companies at risk. That’s why it’s important for business owners to investigate whether they’ve fallen victim to unscrupulous brokers. Many of them have no idea they’ve been illegally charged commission. It’s only right that these brokers are forced to repay those who placed their trust in them.”

Small business owners, who think they may have been wrongly charged commission for their gas and energy supply, can contact our Energy Claims team for advice.

Author bio

Neil Stockdale

Partner

Neil is head of the firm’s group actions and financial mis-selling teams, specialising in handling claims for financial mis-selling relating to energy contracts, pensions, investments and timeshares.

Disclaimer: The information on the Hugh James website is for general information only and reflects the position at the date of publication. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be treated as such. If you would like to ensure the commentary reflects current legislation, case law or best practice, please contact the blog author.

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