Submit a competition complaint

Guidance
Publication date
Industry sector
Distribution Network
Transmission Network
Supply and Retail Market
Generation and Wholesale Market
Offshore Transmission Network

We have powers alongside the Competition and Markets Authority to enforce competition law in relation to commercial activities in the gas and electricity sectors in Great Britain. Specifically, those activities are:

  • commercial activities connected with the generation, transmission or supply of electricity or the use of electricity interconnectors; 
  • licensable activities, or other activities that are ancillary to those subject to licences, for the transportation, shipping or supply of gas, or for gas interconnectors or smart meter communication services (including, in particular, the storage of gas, the provision and reading of meters and the provision of pre-payment facilities).

Competition law obligations

The Competition Act 1998 (the Competition Act) prohibits anti-competitive behaviour that affects trade in the UK. The Competition Act imposes two key prohibitions on anti-competitive conduct: 

  • The Competition Act prohibits an agreement between businesses, decisions by an association of businesses or concerted practices that have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition (the Chapter I prohibition) unless these are exempt in accordance with the provisions of the Competition Act,
  • The Competition Act prohibits a business which holds a dominant position in a market from abusing that position (the Chapter II prohibition). 

How to submit a competition complaint 

We’re interested to hear about any conduct by a business that may harm competition in the gas and electricity sectors in Great Britain. You can submit a complaint by emailing: Competitioncomplaint@ofgem.gov.uk. 

We do not however have concurrent jurisdiction to prosecute the ‘cartel offence’ (defined in the Enterprise Act 2002). Complaints that are made to us and which appear to relate to a suspected cartel will be referred to the Competition and Markets Authority. Under competition law, competition authorities may grant leniency to businesses who inform them of cartel activities and commit to ongoing cooperation during an investigation. Leniency may take the form of total immunity from fines for the first business to successfully apply, or a reduction in penalties. Applications for leniency should be made directly to the Competition and Markets Authority in accordance with its published principles and process for leniency and its information notice on arrangements for the handling of leniency application in the regulated sectors.

What happens next

After you have submitted a competition complaint to us, you will receive an automated response via email and we will review all of the information you submitted.

We cannot respond in detail to individual complaints.

As a result of the information you provide, we may:

  • contact you to gather further information 
  • contact businesses to gather further information
  • investigate and take legal action against businesses

We take the handling of information and privacy very seriously and will assess whether any information provided to us should be treated as confidential. Read how we handle information in our Enforcement Guidelines.

If you have any questions or concerns, please mail us at: Competitioncomplaint@ofgem.gov.uk.