Spark - The Ofgem Newsletter (October roundup 2025)

Whether you're in policy, the energy industry, or just passionate about the future of energy, this roundup is for you.

This is our selection of the top announcements and article posts from Ofgem over the last month that deserve a second look, or you might have missed.

This month;

Ofgem set out plans to tackle historic debt in the energy system

The energy price cap rose on 1 October by 2%

Ofgem calls on DNOs to do more to strengthen network resilience to storms and improve support for customers

Warm Home Discount consultation opens

Ofgem sets up taskforce to boost innovation in energy networks

Ofgem visits Tata Steel and Biaco Energy

Our CEO Jonathan Brearley appeared on 5Live with Martin Lewis

Delivering a Fairer, More Flexible Energy System for Consumers

Implementing connections reform: our role in supporting a strong and fair outcome

Energy Consumer Satisfaction Survey: July to August 2025 summary

Job opportunities at Ofgem

Featured news 

Ofgem to set out plan to ‘reset and reform’ growing energy debt

We set out our plans to tackle historic debt built up during the energy crisis. This could help around 195,000 customers by writing off £500m.

The final consultation on the first phase of our Debt Relief Scheme will be published as part of our plans to help consumers, and support suppliers to bring down the £4.4bn of debt in the energy system.

You can read our press release in full here: Ofgem to set out plan to ‘reset and reform’ growing energy debt | Ofgem

Our CEO Jonathan Brearley appeared on 5Live with Martin Lewis and Adrian Chiles

Following our announcement on our plans to tackle energy debt, our CEO Jonathan Brearly appeared on BBC 5 Live answering questions from listeners alongside Martin Lewis and Adrian Chiles.

You can listen to his appearance on the Martin Lewis podcast here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0mcszmw

Ofgem calls on DNOs to do more to strengthen network resilience to storms and improve support for customers

Earlier this month, Ofgem has published a methodology consultation for the landmark local electricity distribution price control for the five year investment period starting in April 2028 (known as “ED3”).

This critical period will be pivotal in unlocking unprecedented investment to expand access to clean, affordable power for cities and communities across Great Britain, supporting further electrification of heat and transport and laying the foundations for the wider decarbonisation of the economy.

In today’s publication – which builds on the transformational framework set out in April this year – Akshay Kaul, Ofgem’s Director General for Infrastructure, calls on Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) to do more to speed up connections to the local electricity grids, strengthening their resilience and reliability, and further improving customer service. This is alongside a number of other proposals on how we intend to regulate the cost and quality of service from DNOs during the period.

Read in full: Ofgem calls on DNOs to do more to strengthen network resilience to storms and improve support for customers

Warm Home Discount consultation opens

We’re proposing changes to how Warm Homes Discount scheme costs are recovered under the price cap. Our proposed adjustment helps suppliers recover costs earlier, supports market resilience, and smooths bills for consumers, especially low-use households. The total consumer contribution stays the same. We’re simply rebalancing the timing to reduce short-term volatility. We welcome views from consumer groups, charities, and other stakeholders from across industry.

You can share your feedback here: Energy price cap: proposed changes to Warm Home Discount Scheme cost allowance | Ofgem

Ofgem sets up taskforce to boost innovation in energy networks

Ofgem has launched the Energy Networks Innovation Taskforce to help energy network companies tackle big challenges such as long wait times to connect to the grid. The focus is on bold, high-risk ideas that could transform how our energy system works, not just small fixes. This is a chance for companies to aim higher and think differently. Big-picture innovation is essential if we want a smarter, stronger and more affordable energy system that drives economic growth and supports clean power by 2030 and well beyond.

Explore how the taskforce plans to transform UK energy networks: LinkedIn

Price cap increases by 2%

On 1 October to 31 December 2025 the price for energy for a typical household who use electricity and gas and pay by Direct Debit went up by 2%.

Recent visits 

Tata Steel: Our CEO Jonathan Brearley, Chair Mark McAllister and the Ofgem team recently joined Tata Steel at their Port Talbot site to engage in conversations around investment in low-CO₂ steelmaking, an important initiative to secure the future of steel manufacturing in the UK

Biaco Energy: Ofgem visited Biaco Energy in West Sussex to learn more about their prototype energy cell technology and discuss the role of innovators in shaping the future of the energy market.

Featured Article 

Delivering a Fairer, More Flexible Energy System for Consumers (By Jonathan Brearley, CEO at Ofgem)

On 14 October 2025 I had a chance to talk directly to the sector that is regulated by the organisation I lead at the Energy UK conference. In a conversation on stage with Juliet Davenport, we covered some of the themes and challenges that the energy industry is grappling with today.

For those who were there I hope you found it useful but for those who were not I thought I would reflect on the progress the sector has made to date and look ahead to the challenges we must work together to overcome, as we transition to a new energy system.

Everything we do as a regulator must be focused on delivering better outcomes for consumers, particularly those who are most vulnerable. That means building a retail market that is stable, fair, and ready for the transition to a more flexible, renewables-based energy system.

The sector has achieved a great deal. Complaints have come down, and domestic consumer satisfaction with suppliers has reached a high of 82%. Consumers are more engaged with the market, including taking advantage of good value, flexible tariffs that allow them to access cheaper energy at off-peak periods. Annual transmission investment has increased four-fold since the start of the decade, with £80 billion planned over the next five years.

This is a strong foundation, but there is more to do to shape the retail market of the future. Tim Jarvis, Ofgem’s Director General for Markets, will be expanding on this in more detail in the next few weeks, and asking the industry for feedback on the consumer outcomes we all aim for.

Read Jonathan’s LinkedIn article in full: Delivering a Fairer, More Flexible Energy System for Consumers | LinkedIn

Implementing connections reform: our role in supporting a strong and fair outcome (By Eleanor Warburton, Director for Energy System Design and Development at Ofgem)

The connections reform process is proceeding at pace. We have been working closely with the National Energy System Operator (NESO) to ensure that it delivers a strong and fair outcome, meaning the right offers are issued first time. This blog post explains our expected role in handling the exceptional cases where disputes may arise that lead parties to seek an Ofgem determination.

Earlier this year, Ofgem published the Target Model Option 4 (‘TMO4+’) connections reform decisions. This marked a significant step in the journey to deliver a new connections process designed to reduce average connection dates, better meet customers’ needs, and enable a timely transition to net zero.

Implementation of the reform process by NESO is now well underway. The first application evidence window has now closed and in time we will see new offers being issued to deliver a newly reformed queue for connecting to the grid.

To ensure the overall reform process is considered a success, it is of vital importance that all project applicants receive fair and equitable treatment throughout and have channels to raise concerns where they believe this may be in question.

This is an edited version of a longer article that you can read in full here: Implementing connections reform: our role in supporting a strong and fair outcome | Ofgem

Featured research

Energy Consumer Satisfaction Survey: July to August 2025 summary

Our summary findings about domestic energy consumers’ experiences of the energy market, including customer service and billing.

Main points

Overall satisfaction with suppliers continues to rise, reaching 82%, the highest level since the survey began in 2018, with dissatisfaction remaining at its lowest level at 6%.

Satisfaction with customer service is at its highest level since the survey began in 2018, increasing from 74% in January 2025 to 76% in July and August 2025.

Satisfaction with all other customer service metrics improved, including satisfaction with billing accuracy and billing understanding.

Consumers’ experience of contacting their suppliers also improved, with 77% saying it was easy compared to 75% in January 2025.

Among those who have fallen behind on their energy payments, 20% report that they were contacted proactively by their supplier, compared to 14% in January 2025.

The proportion of respondents who report making a complaint remains stable at 3%.

Read the main and subsidiary documents here: Energy Consumer Satisfaction Survey: July to August 2025 summary | Ofgem

Get data from October’s energy topics here: Data | Ofgem

Job opportunities

Chief Operating Officer: Opportunities | Odgers

Coming next month - Ofgem turns 25!

Thanks for reading.  

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