Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to regulate the activities of energy brokers in the commercial energy market.

The independent regulator, Ofgem has powers under the Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations to investigate energy brokers and other organisations who are suspected of marketing energy products and services to business customers in a misleading way. Ofgem can seek undertakings to stop the misleading market activity or apply to the courts for an injunction to ensure they are complying with the legislation.

Energy broker fees are recovered in various ways, for example they can form part of the rate businesses are charged for their energy tariff. So, it is important for business customers to know how much energy brokers charge before agreeing to use their services and report it when they are not treated fairly.