Hospitality operators urged to respond to Ofgem consultation

UKHospitality has asked operators to back calls for Ofgem to urgently implement recommendations from its energy market review.

The regulator last month set out plans to crack down on rogue energy suppliers and make it easier for businesses to complain about their behaviour.

UKHospitality is urging Ofgem to act swiftly on its plans and has called for operators to respond to its consultation and back its #FiveAsksForOfgem campaign.

These include preventing sectors such as hospitality from being blacklisted by firms, allowing businesses to take complaints to the energy ombudsman and encouraging suppliers to help operators stuck in high energy contracts.

UKHospitality also wants Ofgem to improve regulation of energy brokers by extending protections to businesses of all sizes, and to offer greater transparency to customers and a quicker response to complaints.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, said: "Sky-high energy costs have decimated so many hospitality businesses, including those suffering from contracts fixed at prices far above current market rates.

"The Ofgem review last week was crystal clear that many of the issues facing businesses lie at the door of the energy suppliers. Whether it is refusing to renegotiate contracts, demanding enormous deposits, or simply refusing to supply the sector, it's clear that some energy suppliers are mistreating the sector.

She added: "This consultation is an opportunity for the sector to unite and demonstrate the strength of feeling that Ofgem needs to take action urgently. Businesses cannot withstand inaction any longer and the market needs to be urgently fixed.

"I would urge every business and person working within hospitality to back our #FiveAsksForOfgem and respond to the consultation. Your voice is essential."

To respond to the consultation click here.

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