ERA statement on the Competitive Market

14 January 2008

The aim of the Energy Retail Association is to continually improve customers’ experiences with their electricity and gas suppliers. This means that we work closely with Government and the industry regulator on high level policy issues such as tackling fuel poverty and protecting vulnerable customers; delivering energy efficiency schemes; and developing standards on operational matters e.g. billing and doorstep sales.

Since its inception, the ERA has improved industry performance in the areas of customer transfers, doorstep sales (leading to the establishment of the EnergySure accreditation scheme) and billing (with the creation of the Code of Practice for Accurate Bills and the Energy Ombudsman).

The ERA operates within strict guidelines. Our activity is not related to matters affecting competition between our members, and the ERA is not a forum for discussions as to energy prices or other commercially sensitive matters. Nor are ERA staff privy to any information of this nature. As a responsible trade association representing a highly competitive industry we take legal guidance to ensure that our activities do not breach competition law or any other regulations.

We work closely with the Office of Fair Trading, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets, and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. We are happy to share any information with the industry regulator about meetings held under the auspices of the ERA.