Consumer Scotland publishes response to Ofgem consultation on acquisition-only tariff ban

Consumer Scotland published its response to Ofgem's statutory consultation on the future of the ban on acquisition-only tariffs on 8 July 2024¹. The document sets out the independent body's response to the energy regulator's consultation on the rules covering tariffs offered only to new customers¹.

The response is titled "Consumer Scotland response to Ofgem's Statutory Consultation on the Future of the Ban on Acquisition-only Tariffs"¹. It is available in both PDF and HTML formats, with the PDF version listed at 159.8KB¹. The publication page records both a first published date and a last updated date of 8 July 2024¹.

The ban in question is the restriction on acquisition-only tariffs, deals available only to customers switching supplier rather than to existing customers. Ofgem's consultation is a statutory consultation, the formal stage at which the regulator sets out proposals and invites responses before deciding whether to change the rules¹.

The published response document does not itself set out the outcome of the consultation, and no decision by Ofgem on the future of the ban is reported in the material published by Consumer Scotland¹. The consultation's closing date, the number of responses received and any timetable for a decision have not been reported¹.

Why it matters for households

Acquisition-only tariffs are priced for customers who switch supplier. The ban means suppliers cannot offer a cheaper deal exclusively to new customers while keeping existing customers on a different tariff. If the ban were lifted, the deals available to households already with a supplier and those switching could diverge, which affects anyone comparing energy prices or deciding whether to stay put.

The consultation concerns the rules for the retail energy market across Great Britain, so the households affected are those buying electricity and gas from domestic suppliers. Nothing in the published response indicates what Ofgem will decide, when a decision will be made or whether the ban will change. Until Ofgem publishes its decision, the existing rules remain as they are.

Consumer Scotland is an independent body that represents consumer interests in Scotland. Its response forms part of the consultation record that Ofgem will consider alongside responses from other organisations and individuals.

What happens next

Ofgem's statutory consultation process continues. Consumer Scotland's response was published on 8 July 2024¹. No date for Ofgem's decision, and no indication of its direction, has been reported¹. Households wanting to follow the wider framework for energy supply and consumer protection can read our regulation and policy coverage.