Consolidation in the domestic energy market: An interview with Shoosmiths

Cornwall Insight and the UK law firm Shoosmiths have published a report on consolidation in the domestic energy market. Over the last five years or so, the market has undergone a period of intense competition. Lower barriers to entry saw a rise in licensed competitors, diversifying propositions, service and added value options for consumers. Today, that number has fallen dramatically as the market has moved into a phase of consolidation. 

We’ve seen multiple Supplier of Last Resort (SoLR) events and market exits, HUB energy being the latest one in the past month. With these exits come cost implications for the whole industry due to the socialisation of failed supplier debt, and mergers and acquisitions are also on the rise.

In this podcast, Cornwall Insight’s Lead Research Analysts, Emma Bill and Kate Hill, come together with Tim Jackson-Smith, Partner at UK law firm Shoosmiths LLP to consider the key messages from the report. This includes insights as to what business models are underpinning success among today’s market leaders and how the market might fare for suppliers more generally, be that present suppliers or new entrants.

Download our report on consolidation in the domestic energy market here.

If you have any queries, or would like to discuss the report’s findings, please get in touch with e.bill@cornwall.insight.com, k.hill@cornwall-insight.com and  tim.jackson-smith@shoosmiths.co.uk 

Below is a 60-second extract from our full podcast.
Emma Bill

Emma Bill

Kate Hill

Kate Hill

To listen to the full podcast, please log in to your account

Alternatively, please sign up for a free account

Log in or sign up for free
Contact us

Related thinking

Home supply and services

Impacts of backwardation on the Default Tariff Cap

Dr Craig Lowrey joins Veronica Truman in our latest podcast. They talk about Ofgem’s decision to proceed with a backwardation allowance window of six months in the wholesale methodology when calculating the Default Tariff Cap.  The timing of the decision is discussed, along with implications for suppliers and consumers. They...

Low carbon generation

Can we fix the energy market this winter to lower prices?

Robert Buckley and Tom Edwards discuss the interventions in the retail and wholesale markets that might help alleviate some of the concerns around the cost of living crisis and rising wholesale prices this winter. There have been many different theories and policies suggested and Robert and Tom talk about some...

Low carbon generation

The launch of REMA

REMA promises the biggest changes in the power market for a generation. It includes options for changing the locational stricture, the means of dispatch, and the price setting basis of the wholesale market, and then also considers related changes to existing support schemes, flexibility incentives and operational delivery. The potential...

Home supply and services

Faithless: social tariffs a better option to protect consumers?

The merits and pitfalls of the current Default Tariff Cap on domestic energy bills have been debated at length. Whether the cap is seen as a blunt tool in need of replacement, or a vital intervention to protect large numbers of energy consumers, it is clear that further support for...

Regulation and Policy

The Energy Security Bill – What you need to know

Join Veronica Truman, Robert Buckley, and Alex Jephson as they talk through the Queen's Speech which outlined the Energy Security Bill.

Home supply and services

Ofgem’s new quarterly price cap review with Dr. Craig Lowrey

The announcement by Ofgem of its minded-to decision in respect of a move from seasonal Default Tariff Cap periods to quarterly caps had been largely anticipated following communication from the regulator in February 2022. However, the move comes as part of a wide-ranging set of potential further changes to the...

Business supply and services

Rising energy prices: What businesses can do to reduce risk and what’s next in terms of net zero.

In this podcast, Dr. Craig Lowrey and Anna Moss discuss the challenges for businesses in times of unprecedented energy prices.  They explore questions such as why energy prices are rising so much and what steps businesses taken to reduce their risk? They also discuss what’s next for businesses in prices...

Commercial and market outlook

Planning for an unknown future in the energy market

Veronica Truman Robert Buckley discuss our Energy Perspective from this week. They cover why we decided to cover this topic, what changes are we seeing in the Default Tariff Cap and what is coming up this week.