OFGEM investigates Scottish Power

Ofgem investigations - 'Well Sort Of'

In April 2007, the British government's energy regulator, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), urged customers of Scottish Power and EDF Energy to switch to a cheaper provider after the firms refused to cut prices in line with the rest of the industry.

In April 2008 Ofgem launched an investigation into allegations that Scottish Power abused their dominant market position relating to the electricity transmission network they own jointly in Scotland. Ofgem said it had launched its inquiry into Scottish Power and Scottish & Southern Energy under section 18 of the Competition Act, "based on a formal complaint alleging abuse of a dominant position in the electricity generation sector arising from constrained capacity on the transmission network." The energy regulator believes that energy generators manipulate the power market for profit when supplies are tight because network operator National Grid has to pay utilities to turn their plants on or off to balance supply and demand. This resulted in companies deliberately shutting their plants down when supplies are tight in order to receive a higher payment to start up again, increasing the system balancing costs at the expense of consumers. Ofgem were alarmed that the cost of balancing the system increased from £70 million in 2007/08 to an estimated £238 million for 2008/09 and an expected £258 million pounds in 2009/10, with most of the costs incurred in Scotland. In January 2009, Ofgem suspended the investigation, saying it would be more effective to deal with the wider problem than pursuing the specific case further.

In August 2008 it was revealed that staff at Scottish Power's East Kilbride offices had accessed their own accounts, as well as those of friends and relatives to set up cheap tariffs not offered to other customers, and then authorised cheques to themselves to refund the ensuing balance.

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