Energy industry regulator Ofgem has announced that it has launched “misselling” investigations into four of the UK’s largest energy suppliers. The four named are nPower, Scottish power, Scottish and Southern Energy, and EDF Energy.

The investigation concerns whether the four energy suppliers are complying with new regulations after a recent Ofgem probe.

What’s more, Ofgem has established a “Hotline” with Consumer Direct, so that any customers with examples, or evidence of misselling can tell their woes. The number to reach this service is 08454 04 05 06. Customers are being urged to call if they are at all concerned about the sales tactics of the four energy companies when negotiating energy contracts. This might include face-to-face dealings, or by telephone.

Ofgem is keen to review any evidence of misselling.

The regulator is throwing its weight around after its recent retail market probe and tougher obligations placed on energy suppliers.

The Ofgem Senior Partner, Markets, Andrew Wright, said:
“Suppliers have existing obligations to detect and prevent misselling and new licence conditions were brought in following our probe to further increase protection for customers. We expect all suppliers to comply with these tougher obligations but if our investigations find otherwise we will take strong action.”

It was last October when the new Ofgem obligations were introduced. It meant that the energy suppliers had to be more proactive in the prevention of misselling to customers face-to-face and over the telephone. Key were the conditions that if the companies were selling face-to-face, then they are obliged to provide their customers with an estimate before any agreements, or contracts are signed. Furthermore, most customers should get a comparison of the supplier’s offer with their current deal.

Ofgem acknowledged at the time that these newer obligations were tougher than those used within the general consumer protection law, but argued that the importance of the issues raised in energy deals were such that it warranted tough sanctions.

Both Ofgem and Consumer Focus have also published a leaflet with has been designed to give consumers helpful advice and guidance when it comes to dealing with energy suppliers.

Ofgem goes on to say that just because they have launched the investigations, does not mean to say that all, or any one of the four energy suppliers involved has either broken a condition of the new rules, or has broken the law.

The regulator has had to fine companies before following similar investigations. In 2008 nPower was stung for £1.8 million and £2 million was levied on London Electricity (which is now part of EDF Energy) in 2002.

Should Ofgem get upset with one of the companies supplying the UK market, it has the power to levy a financial penalty of up to 10% of the company’s total turnover.

Such a fine would make a sizeable dent in any one of the four energy suppliers named by Ofgem in this latest investigation.

Guest Article by Neil Camp

The nPower business is a great sponsor of UK sports and are adept at trying to get kids involved in the big sporting events.

The latest idea from the nPower business was to choose children from East Midlands schools to form a Guard of Honour at the recent Test match between England and Pakistan at Trent Bridge.

The children were selected from the Urban Cricket World Record Attempt; over 2010 children took part to try to seal the new world record for the largest number of children all at the same time and in the same space. Out of these 2010 children, 10 boys and girls were chosen from the nine winning teams that took part at the Nottingham Racecourse.

Candleby Lane, Lowes Wong, Forest Fields, St Johns Church of England, Middleton, Coppice Farm, St. Edmund Campion, Jesse Gray Primary and Bentinck Primary were the nine schools that came out on top.

The structure of the competition meant that 105 pitches were spread across nine zones; each of the zones ended with a champion after three tense rounds of matches. The winners joined others in the Urban Cricket Crew reserved seating to watch the Test cricket; another part of nPower’s grassroot ideas to get children into some of the top cricket matches out there.

All children received an Urban cricket Crew goodie bag, and enjoyed a thrilling match. “We are delighted to give children from the winning teams a chance to be the Guard of Honour at the celebrated Test ground. I’m sure it’s an experience they’ll remember for years to come and hopefully will inspire them to become the next generation of cricketing stars,” said Clare McDougall, nPower’s head of education and community.

The nPower business has been attempting to get to the grassroots of local communities through their diligent and attentive sponsorship of major sporting events, and are most well known for their support of the Test cricket. The Urban Cricket, in conjunction with the ECB, is one of the many grassroots projects that are currently running.

Guest Article by Neil Camp

nPower are hoping that some of the cricketers success will rub off on the bid to get England to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The cricket star James Anderson was presented by nPower with an England 2018 ‘Back the Bid’ shirt; as sponsors of the England cricket Test Series, they have been using their pulling power with English cricketers to help get people behind the bid for the FIFA World Cup.

More than one million people have signed up to show their support for the 2018 World Cup bid, and Anderson will now be added to the growing list. He will find himself alongside other illuminates of sport and entertainment, including David Beckham, Lewis Hamilton and James Corden.

As an official supporter of the England 2018 bid, nPower has been touring the country talking to small businesses in the key areas that would be targeted during the World Cup, discussing things from reducing their carbon footprint, to energy saving measures, to highlighting how important their role will be if England gets the World Cup.

The opportunity to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup would be a big boost to England’s economy and businesses, both locally and nationally, with the entire country being benefitted by the advantages the World Cup would bring. Some cities have already been targeted as Candidate Host Cities, including Nottingham and Birmingham; two cities where James Anderson has been playing cricket in the recent Test series.
Anderson urges fans to continue to back the bid, so that England can get a chance to host one of the biggest sporting events in the world: “We have experienced some fantastic support so far in the series and it shows the passion this country has for sport. Being the host nation for a football World Cup would give English sports fans a huge stage to express themselves on so I’m not only backing the bid myself but also urging the entire nation to register their support at www.england2018bid.com.”

Guest Article by Neil Camp

Act now says nPower, otherwise risk facing penalties of a financial and reputational nature.

The stark warning from the energy giant comes because it believes that many companies and public sector organisations are just not ready for the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme deadlines.

nPower has issued its advice after the Environment Agency confirmed that of those companies and organisations which will included in full in the scheme, less than 10% have bothered to register. By 21 June, only 447 out of a total of 5,000 of those companies expected to participate in the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme had signed up.

And if they don’t register by the first deadline of 31 July, 2010, one of the big advantages they’ll miss out on is being able to register dissimilar businesses within the same group. This is a concession that nowadays many industrial conglomerates are made up of very different subsidiaries in varying business sectors and that they should be treated as individual entities. This is known as the disaggregation option.

Head of business energy services at nPower, Dave Lewis, said:
“The disaggregation option might seem like a simple administrative task, but it could potentially be a valuable route for many businesses. CRC participation is typically established at a group level, but being able to register companies separately could make collating data and submitting ongoing evidence packs simpler.

“There’s also the reputational benefits to consider. If the parent company’s name is little known publicly, for example, it could miss out on the brand value of a high position in the Carbon Reduction Commitment league table.

“Bearing in mind the registrations that have been completed to date, we expect many to miss out on disaggregation, and instead be faced with managing Carbon Reduction Commitment at a group level. This will bring its own challenges as data will need to be compiled and submitted for the whole group.

“The slow rate of registration so far also indicates that many organisations may not be actively tracking their energy use from 1st April this year in preparation for the year end footprint report. The longer organisations take to track this, the more challenging the task will become.”

And the penalties for not signing up to the scheme are quite severe. For those companies and organisations who miss the final deadline of 30 September, 2010, a fine of £5,000 will be levied. And a further £500 will be charged every working day past the 30 September deadline, subject to a maximum 80 days.

Guest Article by Neil Camp

nPower has enlisted the help of the celebrity northern chefs the Hairy Bikers to help promote the nPower Cook Book and open their new Sunderland offices.

Although the new office complex, which will house some 2,000 employees and is based at Rainton Bridge, won’t open until September, it was too good an opportunity to miss and the touring Hairy Bikers dropped in to see the new offices and the nPower Cook Book.

The nPower Cook Book is part of the company’s commitment to bring the FIFA World Cup 2018 to England. nPower is an official supporter of the campaign and have teamed up with the celebrity biker chefs who are well known football fans.

The nPower Cook Book is based on recipes from the 32 countries taking part in the current World Cup and each one of the recipes is focused on their energy efficiency when being prepared. The energy efficient recipes range from Slovenian Baked Mushrooms, to England’s Steak and Ale Pie. It is all part of the company’s smartpower initiative.

An employee of the energy giant, Gary Doig, said of the visit by the TV chefs Si King and Dave Myers and the nPower cook book:
“I’m a huge fan of the Hairy Bikers, so I was over the moon to meet the pair. They spent time chatting to everyone in the office and gave us some helpful cooking tips too! It was quite surreal to see two guys off the telly stood next to my desk, but they were really funny and we were all really excited to have them here.”

The hairy bikers, as well as tasting dishes made from the nPower Cook Book, made on the day in the office complex restaurant, enjoyed their visit:

Si King said:
“It was great to visit nPower’s offices just days after a big England match – everyone was in great spirits from the footie and from their brand new surroundings. It made a nice change to spend the day back home in the North East, and tuck into some grub that had been made for us! The pie was almost as good as our own steak & ale pie recipe in the nPower cook book.”

Mike Myers chipped in with:
“We’re massive football fans and think it’s fantastic that nPower has come up with a way of getting everyone excited about enjoying the football and doing their bit for the planet at the same time.”

The nPower cook book rated dishes as their energy efficiency in their preparation and awarded each dish a rating from one to five stars. A one star was the most efficient and for example, the Algerian couscous dish got this top rating. The Blue Cheesecake recipe from the US got three stars and England’s Steak and Ale Pie got an unfortunate five stars.

Guest Article by Neil Camp