Category Archives: Energy

Businesses set to cash in as SSE opens up access to energy markets for smaller assets

August 24, 2020 Lisa Baker, Editor, UK Business News

Manufacturers, building managers, local councils and other large energy users could generate thousands of pounds of income from their assets thanks to a new service launched by SSE Enterprise’s distributed energy business.

SSE Enhance is a smart grid, aggregation and trading platform that allows users to get paid for helping to balance supply and demand across their local network and the electricity network. The platform will give customers access to the Wholesale market, Balancing Mechanism, and Ancillary Services.

Companies, public sector organisations and other customers can receive payments/make savings for reducing their electricity demand during peak periods, or they can reduce their own peaks through optimising and automating local demand against generation/storage. This will help customers manage local constraints, increase security of supply and optimise asset performance.

Customers could also be paid to feed excess electricity from their own assets – like combined heat and power units, solar panels, wind turbines or energy storage batteries – into the grid to help cope with spikes in demand.

Customers can set the parameters for the platform – such as the times of day that they’re prepared to vary their use of electricity on site – and then SSE’s market-leading optimisation software, coupled with its experienced trading team, will optimise and/or trade those assets in response to market events.

Users also receive access to a round-the-clock support and monitoring desk.

This new platform forms the basis of SSE Enterprise’s wider suite of services, that will enable them to partner with organisations to support them on their journey to Net Zero carbon emissions.

SSE Enterprise’s distributed energy business is currently adding specific customers’ assets to the system so that they can begin trading their energy.

Stephen Stead, Director of Strategy & Digital Services at SSE Enterprise’s distributed energy business, said: “Creating a platform that combines SGS’s smart grid capabilities with our energy and trading experience is not only a watershed moment for our customers but will also make a significant contribution to the wider efforts of tackling the climate emergency.

“Combining this new solution with our wider Distributed Energy offering will mean we can work with customers to ensure they have the best deployed solution to meet carbon reduction targets. We can offer the full solution – funding, deployment, management and now optimisation.

“This will enable the deployment of more renewable energy generation – like wind turbines, solar panels, biomass plants and energy storage –which may have been inconceivable to customers previously due to capital cost constraints.

“This platform will help customers reduce energy demand at peak times which will help National Grid ESO to balance supply and demand, reducing the need for expensive upgrades to the wires, substations and other infrastructure.”

The platform was built using ANM Strata, a distributed energy resources management system (DERMS) developed by Glasgow-based energy software specialist Smarter Grid Solutions (SGS).

SGS’s programs are already used by companies in Europe and the United States – including UK Power Networks, Laing O’Rourke and Southern California Edison – to manage their energy systems.

SSE and SGS are also working together on Peterborough Integrated Renewables Infrastructure project (PIRI), a two year Innovate UK design project, that brings together energy generation, demand and storage, to unlock efficiencies not deliverable under our existing, traditional energy systems.

Graham Ault, Executive Director and Co-Founder of SGS, added: “The launch of SSE Enhance is a major milestone for both SSE Enterprise’s distributed energy business and ourselves.

“Building a platform around ANM Strata has brought our two companies closer together and demonstrated the benefits of harnessing our technology and SSE’s experience in the energy trading markets.

“Working with SSE in this way is a fast-growing part of our strategy to help customers gain access to markets for their energy assets.

“What’s more, we’re continuing to help connect more clean, decentralised, low-carbon power generation to the grid, which will help to tackle the climate emergency and bring Britain closer to its 2050 net-zero target.”

Energy, News, Scotland

New energy collaboration to tackle fuel poverty in East Lothian

August 20, 2020 Lisa Baker, Editor, UK Business News

East Lothian Council has today launched East Lothian Energy, in association with People’s Energy, the UK’s only Community Interest Company energy supplier.

East Lothian Energy powered by People’s Energy will offer affordable, sustainable and fair energy for all East Lothian residents as part of a joint commitment to help eradicate fuel poverty.

The new initiative sees People’s Energy, in association with East Lothian Council, offering a special variable and fixed tariff that is discounted from its regular tariffs and available exclusively to East Lothian residents. This offer equates to potential savings of up to £200 annually compared with the current energy price cap (as of 30th July 2020), based on Ofgem’s medium typical domestic consumption values energy usage.

East Lothian Energy customers will also benefit from automatic People’s Energy membership which includes a pledge to pay back 75% of profits to all domestic customers through an annual rebate.

As well as significant savings on electricity and gas, East Lothian Energy customers will be also be helping the environment as all electricity from People’s Energy comes from 100% renewable sources.

The collaboration was driven by People’s Energy Company’s commitment to ensure affordable energy is accessible to all and to prioritise the welfare of its communities above profits.

Speaking about the launch, David Pike, CEO and co-founder of People’s Energy, said: “Within East Lothian, it is estimated that almost a quarter of households (22%) are living in fuel poverty, equating to 13,500 homes. With this new affordable tariff for East Lothian residents, we have the potential to reduce the fuel poverty gap in the area quite considerably.

“People’s Energy is a social enterprise that puts people and the planet before profits. We’re delighted to have the opportunity to partner with East Lothian Council to help make a positive change in the same area where People’s Energy first started three years ago.

“This collaboration with East Lothian Council is one of many steps we are taking to help eradicate fuel poverty and we would welcome other local authorities looking to do the same to get in touch.”

Councillor Norman Hampshire, Cabinet Spokesperson for the Environment, East Lothian Council, said: “We are delighted to be collaborating with People’s Energy to launch this exciting new initiative. East Lothian Energy gives county residents the exclusive opportunity to purchase affordable, sustainable and fair energy. We hope this will be attractive to householders across a mix of tenures – including tenants and homeowners.

“As well as saving money and helping to reduce fuel poverty, East Lothian Energy is a great way of enabling customers to support the environment and tackling climate change – a key priority for us as a council. That is because all of the electricity comes from 100% renewable sources.

“East Lothian Energy customers will receive automatic People’s Energy membership – with 75% of their profits being paid back to domestic members through an annual rebate.

“We believe this is quite a unique initiative and I would encourage people living in East Lothian to visit www.peoplesenergy.co.uk/eastlothian to find out more.”

To sign up to East Lothian Energy visit www.peoplesenergy.co.uk/eastlothian

Energy, News, Sustainability, Thought Leadership

Can sustainability survive another recession?

August 18, 2020 Lisa Baker, Editor, UK Business News

The UK is officially in a recession for the first time in 11 years. As the need for companies to cut overheads grows, will sustainability programs be the first to go?

By Valpy Fitzgerald, Director of Green Markets at renewable energy provider Opus Energy

Twelve years ago, the UK was in the middle of a terrible recession. Almost 50 small businesses closed every day because of the economic fallout, with mass unemployment across the country, peaking around 4.9%, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Business owners faced huge pressure to cut expenditure to protect their company from going under. This was thought to be the end for the corporate responsibility budget. Yet despite the financial turmoil caused by the Great Recession, sustainability quickly found itself rising in importance as a business priority.

In a 2010 study by Accenture, 93% of CEOs said that they believed sustainability had become a crucial part of their company’s future success. The study marked a major shift among senior decision makers in relation to sustainability during the recession years. It seemed the sustainable agenda was destined to not only survive the financial crisis, but actually benefit from it.

Over the next decade, sustainability managed to find a growing momentum in both government and the boardroom, culminating in the landmark passing of legislation in 2019 requiring the UK Government to reduce its carbon emissions to net zero by 2050.

But now, as the UK edges closer to what the Bank of England has predicted to be the worst recession in 300 years, we find ourselves asking the question: is sustainability resilient enough to survive another economic crash?

The answer to this is yes – because public mood says that it must. Never before has the public been so restless for change. The coronavirus has provided a vital shift in perspective. We’re now seeing widespread support for a Green Recovery model from the UK Government, with businesses prepared to play their part in reinventing ourselves as a more sustainable nation.

Like the Great Recession, the social and economic fallout from coronavirus has challenged us to reassess our values and consider how our daily decisions impact the future world we are building. Forty-five percent of consumers say they are making more sustainable choices when shopping and are likely to continue to do so. And according to digital consumer intelligence company Brandwatch, March mentions of purchases made for personal ethical reasons were up 132% compared to December.

Shoppers are now buying locally sourced food, minimising plastic waste and cooking from scratch. Out on the roads, an unprecedented number of us are now choosing to cycle or walk, while many more of us now planning to switch to an EV in the new few years.

This has naturally had a profound effect on boardroom decision making. In a recent survey by Opus Energy and Haven Power, part of Drax Group, over half (59%) of SME owners agreed that the pandemic has increased the importance of sustainability for their businesses, while two thirds (68%) say that it has made them more environmentally conscious.

Sustainability became so important during the Great Recession because of cost cutting and finding operational efficiencies. However, business owners also understood the urgent need to regain trust among the public and their customers – trust that was deeply shaken by the failure of the economic system. Many consumers started to vote with their money, choosing to spend with businesses that aligned with their values – much like we’re seeing today.

The need for businesses to openly commit to sustainability is greater now than it was during the last financial crisis. Business owners know that, despite the need to stabilise their business, to abandon their sustainable development goals would be highly damaging. They would risk losing any goodwill they’ve created with their customers and wider stakeholders.

Finding the right balance between financial necessities and environmental responsibilities will be crucial to a businesses’ success. Key to this will be the adoption of a different kind of corporate mindset.

We need to change the narrative away from sustainability as a cost, towards sustainability as a cost saver. When businesses realise that lowering their energy costs can help save money during a time when cash flow is more crucial than ever, energy efficiency and ESG strategies present themselves as obvious short- and long-term solutions, rather than a burden.

Energy, News

Couple hoping to eradicate fuel poverty create 100 new energy jobs in Selkirk after OVO closes office there

August 12, 2020 Lisa Baker, Editor, UK Business News

Husband and wife entrepreneurs Karin Sode and David Pike, founders of People’s Energy, are one step closer to their mission of eradicating fuel poverty as they create 100 new jobs in Selkirk this month.

The couple, who launched and grew People’s Energy after they became frustrated with the lack of ethical and transparent energy providers in the market, spotted an opportunity to tap into the talent in Selkirk left behind when OVO Energy closed their office there earlier this year, at the loss of around 400 jobs.

The announcement comes as People’s Energy joins South of Scotland Enterprise as new tenants of Ettrick Riverside Office Space in Selkirk.

Professor Russel Griggs, Chair of South of Scotland Enterprise said:

“People’s Energy’s expansion into Selkirk and the potential of new jobs is fantastic news for the community.

“The Borders has a fantastic reputation for high quality customer service and expertise in the energy sector and I see this as a much-needed boost for Selkirk, and the wider South of Scotland economy.

“As we start to move through the route-map out of the COVID-19 crisis, the creation of job opportunities for local people will be an invaluable contribution in rebuilding our communities and businesses.

“I’d like to offer a personal welcome to People’s Energy and we look forward to working closely within the coming months and years.”

David Pike, CEO of Edinburgh-based People’s Energy, said about the expansion,

‘We’re really excited about opening a new office in Selkirk as the next step in our journey towards eradicating fuel poverty in the UK. The region has a highly talented workforce and we look forward to creating around 100 new jobs over the next eighteen months. We’re especially pleased to be creating local employment during the current health and economic crisis, when so many jobs are being lost. From small beginnings three years ago, we’re now a rapidly growing gas and electricity supplier with a purpose, serving 180,000 customers across the UK. Looking to expand our operations, we were thrilled to be offered high-quality business space in Selkirk in addition to our existing offices in Shawfair, Edinburgh and Musselburgh.

“People’s Energy is a social enterprise with the welfare of our communities at the heart of everything we do. We’re the only Community Interest Company energy supplier in the UK, dedicated to ending fuel poverty, rather than profiteering. We’re green and ethical and always put people and the planet first.

“We’re looking forward to working in partnership with South of Scotland Enterprise to support the local economy. We’ll deliver secure employment for a minimum of 100 people initially and we expect to create more jobs in the future. And we’re looking forward to welcoming new customers in the Borders who share our vision for a better, fairer world.’

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said:

“The Scottish Government is committed to attracting new businesses to the region and developing the South of Scotland’s economy to its full potential.

“I am delighted that People’s Energy has chosen Selkirk as the base for its new offices, bringing new employment opportunities to the area and helping to regenerate the local economy.”

People’s Energy provides gas and 100% renewable electricity to UK domestic and SME customers, and aims to return 75% of the profits to their members.

For more information on People’s Energy visit: http://www.peoplesenergy.co.uk/

COVID-19, Energy, Environmental News

Two thirds of SME business leaders say they are more environmentally focussed following COVID-19 outbreak

July 17, 2020 Lisa Baker, Editor, UK Business News

Two thirds of Britain’business leaders say they are more environmentally conscious in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, according to new research released this week.

The survey, jointly commissioned by B2B energy suppliers Opus Energy and Haven Power, part of Drax Group, found that small and medium business bosses are having to make bolder decisions as they prepare for a brave new business world. 66 percent admit that their own leadership requires a greater degree of bravery in decision making since the pandemic.

The news comes as the UK begins to move out of lockdown, and businesses begin to identify processes for the new world. Although over half (59%) say the pandemic has increased the importance of sustainability, the need to stabilise their business is holding them back from making bigger leaps in the sustainability agenda. T

Three quarters (75%) of those questioned feel they need to run their businesses differently, with a focus on new ways of working, and almost half (45%) are looking to offer the option of working from home as they seek to provide employees with more flexibility.

Paul Sheffield, Managing Director of Drax’s Customer’s Businesses said:

“Dealing with COVID-19 and the climate emergency is the greatest challenge the world has possibly ever faced. Business leaders recognise they need to be braver and more agile in their decision making to manage short-term priorities of stabilising their businesses and protecting employees. But they also realise that as we navigate out of lockdown, it’s more important than ever to make sure sustainability is at the heart of their operations.

Drax is committed to enabling a zero carbon, lower cost energy future. We are working with our customers as an energy partner, enabling them to become more sustainable, to reduce their emissions by using renewable electricity, EVs, batteries and smart technologies which are better for the environment but can also have a positive impact on their bottom line as well.”

Opus Energy and Haven Power are both specialist energy suppliers to businesses across the UK. As part of Drax Group, both brands are committed to delivering a zero carbon, lower cost energy future. By providing 100% renewable energy tariffs, developing end-to-end electric mobility solutions, and working with more than 2,300 small independent generators to provide customers with renewable energy, Drax is enabling the businesses it works with source and use their energy effectively, reducing costs and carbon emissions, whilst helping them to grow better businesses.

For a guide to re-energising your business’ sustainability agenda, please visit www.opusenergy.com/brighter-business/our-planet-how-to-guide/

Energy

UK reduces its oil imports by over 75 million barrels in five years

April 8, 2020 Lisa Baker, Editor, UK Business News

The UK has reduced its oil imports by more than a fifth (21%) in five years, a new online tool from Daily FX has revealed.

While the country remains the 12th biggest global importer of oil, including petroleum oils, it has taken great strides towards reducing its reliance on such environmentally-harmful fuels.

Between 2013 and 2018, the UK had the eighth-best rate in Europe for reducing such imports, with its intake dropping by 76.9 million barrels (from 359 million to just over 280 million).

Malta (93%) and the Republic of Moldova (92%) experienced the most significant decreases across the continent.

The data has been visualised on a new interactive tool built by Daily FX, the leading portal for forex trading news, which displays global commodity imports and exports over the last decade.

The tool shows that China has recently overtaken the USA as the world’s biggest importer of oil. The Asian giant imported nearly 3.4 billion barrels in 2018, which was over 240 million more than the USA. China tops the list having increased its oil imports by 64% since 2013 – nearly six times the rate of its rival (11%).

The top 10 global importers of oil (2018) are:

China – 3.38 billion barrels
USA – 3.14 billion barrels
India – 1.65 billion barrels
Japan – 1.09 billion barrels
The Republic of Korea – 1.09 billion barrels
Germany – 622 million barrels
Netherlands – 506 million barrels
Italy – 460 million barrels
France – 397 million barrels
Singapore – 376 million barrels

Daily FX’s unique tool allows traders to spot developments in the flow of commodities and the growth of both supply and demand while comparing the changes to critical economic indicators.

One trend highlighted by the tool is the decreasing reliance on oil among African countries. Five of the world’s ten best nations at reducing oil imports are found on the continent, including the top four. Morocco, Kenya, Burundi and Gambia all decreased such imports by over 99%.

John Kicklighter, Chief Currency Strategist at Daily FX, said:

“The world is changing and so is the way that it uses energy. Renewable and environmentally-friendly fuel options are the future, and while the end of crude oil is still far off, there will be considerable changes in the world’s top importers and exporters. Our new tool helps track those changes.

“While some of the larger countries have increased their appetite, it is interesting from an investor’s perspective to see the UK exploring alternative energy sources and reducing its dependence on oil.”

‘Global Commodities’ takes the form of a re-imagined 3D globe where the heights of countries rise and fall to show the import and export levels of a range of commodities over the last decade. The data visualisation allows users to switch views from a single commodity or market and show information relevant to that commodity or market’s performance.

To learn more about Global Commodities and view the tool, visit: https://www.dailyfx.com/research/global-commodities

Coronavirus, Energy

CooperOstlund commits to safeguarding decentralised energy supply

April 2, 2020 Lisa Baker, Editor, UK Business News

CooperOstlund, the leading provider of CHP engine specification and maintenance services, has announced its commitment to supporting the UK’s energy infrastructure during the COVID-19 crisis.

Considered a critical service provider, the business has been advised to continue servicing sites nationwide as the situation develops. Its workshop facilities remain open and its national engineering team remains operational.

With the wellbeing of staff and customers its number one priority, CooperOstlund continues to closely monitor and review operational procedures, ensuring absolute alignment to government guidance.

Tim Broadhurst, Chief Operating Officer at CooperOstlund, commented:

“With uninterrupted decentralised power generation critical to maintaining energy supply, we are working hard to safeguard more than 100MW capacity nationwide.

“We aim to continue providing support and guidance to sites across the UK, alleviating demand on mains supply in a time of global crisis.”

For more information about CooperOstlund, or the company’s engine specification and maintenance services, visit www.cooperostlund.com.

Business Advice, Energy, News

5 top tips for business owners who want to save money and improve their green credentials

March 12, 2020 Lisa Baker, Editor, UK Business News

Business renewable energy specialists Opus Energy share their top tips for business owners keen to reduce their carbon footprint and save money

For business owners, managing your energy consumption is no longer just about keeping tabs on your outgoings – it’s a prerequisite for doing business. Consumer-facing companies that aren’t seen to be environmentally responsible face losing customers, while those further up the supply chain are now being asked by prospective clients to prove their green credentials.

Putting sustainability into practice should now be at the top of the agenda across every industry. Companies are becoming increasingly bold in how they communicate this to customers and stakeholders; at the end of January, The Guardian reinforced its commitment to reducing its carbon footprint by announcing a ban on advertising from fossil fuel firms.

For most business owners, however, it needn’t be that complicated. One of the simplest ways to reduce your impact on the planet and improve your bottom line is by switching to renewable energy and being smart with the energy you use. But how do we navigate the sea of information out there and find a solution that truly works for you and your company?

In this article, the experts at Opus Energy, one of the leading providers of renewable energy to businesses, gives 5 top tips on how to become more sustainable and save some money in the process. All of these can be scaled in a way that works for you – no matter what size your business is.

Start small

Implementing more sustainable practices into your business needn’t break the bank. In fact, there are plenty of small steps you can take that, when measured over time, end up going a long way. For example, did you know that turning the office heating down by 1°C you can reduce your annual heating bill by up to 8%? So, if your business spends £500 a month on energy, that small turn of the dial would save you £480 each year – the equivalent of one month’s energy.

Similar savings can be made across other aspects of your business. Take electricity costs for lighting as another example: leaving the lights on in the meeting room never seems like a big deal – but, by using motion sensitive lighting you could save enough energy to make up to 300 cups of tea.

Likewise, using energy-efficient lighting can save businesses about £1,500 a year.

Another tip is to have a company-wide switch off policy. While it may seem trivial, leaving 50 computers on overnight for a year would create enough CO2 to fill a double decker bus – and cost your business £1.76 a day.

Company cars: Choose the right vehicle

While a lot has been said about leveraging the benefits of car-pooling and subscription-based mobility services, the use of cars for some companies is an unavoidable part of doing business. If your business offers company cars to your employees, it pays to ask yourself the right questions when deciding on what vehicles to go for. How long will your drivers be on the road for and what distances will they be covering? Will they be driving in city centres where Clean Air Zones are in place? And if they were to drive an electric vehicle (EV), would they have access to charging points along the way?

Taking all of this into consideration is key in saving money and reducing emissions, as it can make a huge difference in determining the correct type of vehicle necessary.

It’s also crucial that you look at the whole life costs when choosing a vehicle. It’s easy to focus on the headline sticker price – this is often the case when looking at EVs which in the past have carried a heftier price tag – but there are many other costs involved, from taxes and insurance to fuel and vehicle depreciation. So, when you add all of these up, you might find that switching to an EV fleet isn’t as expensive as you thought.

What’s more, EVs are becoming increasingly affordable, so there’s never been a better time to think of making the switch. They offer two solutions at once: reducing exhaust-related emissions and reducing the use of fossil-derived fuels. By switching your business-use vehicles, including fleet vehicles, to EVs, you can make a drastic cut your carbon footprint.

Use a smart meter

The UK Government estimates that installing energy efficiency measures could reduce the energy costs for SMEs by between 18% and 25%. One such example of this is the smart meter, which gives SME owners access to vast quantities of real-time data-related insights into how and where they use their energy. This transparency allows businesses to be smarter and more energy efficient, providing them with an easy way to be more sustainable.

Smart meters are also the backbone of the Smart Grid, which will play a significant role in the UK Government’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions to net-zero by 2050 by ensuring that supply and demand are always in balance. For companies looking to be proactive in their efforts to cut their carbon footprint and play their part, the smart meter is a savvy move.

Invest in renewables

If you’ve already switched your energy supply to a more environmentally friendly tariff or provider, why not look into generating your own renewable power? If you are able to, installing solar panels are a cost-effective way of ensuring the energy your office or building uses is completely renewable.

Making this switch to renewable energy can reduce not only your environmental impact but contribute towards the wider decarbonisation across the UK’s electricity network. It’s also a way for your business to diversify, by bringing in a new stream of revenue. If done right, it can be low effort, high impact and great for the environment.

Think long term

When it comes to saving money through sustainable practices, it’s crucial that we train ourselves to think long-term, rather than simply thinking about immediate gains. The change associated with moving towards sustainability can often be a deterrent for business owners, as there is a perception that these come at a large cost. But making small changes really can pay off in a big way, both for the environment and your bottom line.
Every business is different, but by taking inspiration from the tips above and combining this with your own research, you should be able to find ways that work for you and your budget.

Energy, News, Technology

Keysource launches new green product

February 25, 2020 Lisa Baker, Editor, UK Business News

Leading datacentre specialist Keysource has launched a new service designed to help companies to optimise the energy efficiency of their datacentres, saving money and reducing carbon. EOS (Energy Optimisation Study) will also provide relevant and accurate data that can be utilised for mandatory regulatory reporting requirements such as SECR (streamlined energy and carbon reporting) and help companies to avoid costly penalties.

The study will include an understanding of the facility utilisation and required operation along with an assessment of the power and cooling infrastructure. Opportunities to optimise will be identified along with their savings and return periods in order to identify recommendations which suit the lifecycle of the facility and the IT within it.

It follows a recent survey by the uptime institute that reported an industry average PUE for 2019 amongst respondents was 1.67 which suggests that improvements in datacentre facility energy efficiency have flattened out and even deteriorated slightly in the past two years. The survey suggests that making small low cost amendments and optimisation with certain infrastructure can in some cases achieve energy savings of up to 20-30%.

Jon Healy, Managing Executive at Keysource, said:

“At Keysource we are committed to supporting our clients’ sustainable goals, whatever their drivers. All eyes are on the corporate green agenda and it is imperative that businesses take the opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint, among other planet saving efforts. The Keysource EOS will give companies the information they need to make informed decisions and will identify real cost benefits, whist maintaining their business critical infrastructure.”

Energy

Energy Switching Figures Mask Drift Back to Big Six

January 2, 2020 Lisa Baker, Editor, UK Business News

New figures revealing there have been a record number of energy switches so far this year do not necessarily mean that more people are switching, or that people switching are saving on their bills, according to the Managing Director of the UK’s first auto-switching site.

Figures from Energy UK revealed that so far in 2019 there have been 5.8 million ‘switches’ with 502,817 of these happening in in November – 1.2 per cent more than in the same month last year.

Mark Gutteridge, Managing Director of Flipper, which finds cheaper suppliers for its customers, said detailed analysis of the figures show that customer behaviour is changing.

He said:

“The figures count the number of switch events rather than the number of households switching. With engaged consumers now switching multiple times in a year it is likely that the number of households who have switched has actually fallen compared to last year.

“If you look at the movement between energy suppliers, the number of people switching to one of the large suppliers grew by 26% year on year, so these are households going back to a big player, not 1st time switchers, while small and medium suppliers saw the smallest monthly increase in customers for three years, gaining just 64,000.”

Mr Gutteridge said many customers were being tempted back to the Big Six by low tariffs being offered on price comparison sites which offer a saving of around £280 per year for a household with “typical” usage.