Monday 29th
June, 3.30pm, Grimond Room, Portcullis House
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will examine the regulation
of water, energy and broadband with witnesses including CBE, founder of
MoneySavingExpert, on Monday, 29thJune at
3.30pm.
For the first time since 2019, the session will see a Select
Committee question the leaders of Ofcom, Ofgem and Ofwat all
together on a single panel, about how they ensure customer
expectations are met.
Financially vulnerable consumers are reporting lower-than-average
satisfaction in the energy and broadband sectors, while broadband
customers with a limiting condition also report
lower-than-average satisfaction. Customers say they can find it
difficult to contact their company when things go wrong.
Separately, customer debt in the energy sector was over £4bn in
March 2025, and has more than doubled since 2021, while energy
repayment plans have not kept pace despite regulatory
requirements to offer them. Debt to water companies is just under
£3bn.
The PAC will hear first from a panel of experts on the issues
faced by consumers before scrutinising senior leadership of
regulators from all three sectors. Likely topics include what
regulators are trying to achieve in relation to consumers'
experience, what regulators are doing to address high consumer
debt, and how they can promote consistent support for customers
with additional communication, safety and access needs.
Panel One - Witnesses from 3.30pm:
- Ali Bell, Director of Communications and Policy, Consumer
Council for Water
-
CBE, Founder and Executive
Chair, MoneySavingExpert
- Anne Pardoe, Head of Policy, Citizens Advice
Panel Two Witnesses from c. 4.30pm:
- Dame , Chief Executive, Ofcom
- Tim Jarvis, Interim Chief Executive, Ofgem
- Chris Walters, Interim Chief Executive, Ofwat
