HOSPITALITY URGED TO BACK #FIVEASKSFOROFGEM

Trade body UKHospitality (UKH) is leading the charge for the sector to support its asks for Ofgem, urging the government regulator to rapidly implement recommendations from its energy market review. 

With energy costs continuing to act as the single most destructive inflationary pressure facing garden centre caterers, UKH is urging the industry to unite and demonstrate the urgent need for Ofgem to move swiftly and enact its recommendations. 

To enact meaningful change within the energy market, UKH is calling for the regulator to:

• Encourage suppliers to resolve issues many businesses are facing with high energy contracts, including direct and immediate communication to suppliers from Ofgem. 
• Offer greater transparency to customers, deliver more timely responses to complaints and drive better practice in setting deemed rates.
• Deliver wider access to the energy ombudsman.
• Put in place measures to prevent the blacklisting of entire sectors, particularly hospitality.
• Improve regulation of energy brokers, including extended protections to more businesses.

"Sky-high energy costs have decimated so many hospitality businesses, including those suffering from contracts fixed at prices far above current market rates," says UKH CEO Kate Nicholls.

"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.

"That review also laid out a number of important recommendations to clean up the energy market, in particular strongly encouraging suppliers to renegotiate contracts.

"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."

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

Hospitality businesses can show their support for swift action by responding to the Ofgem consultation here.

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