Ofgem appoints ombudsman

• By E4B
• 21 June 2008
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Ofgem has announced the appointment of a new ombudsman to represent the interests of domestic and commercial electricity customers.

The organisation has revealed that the Ombudsman Supply Limited is taking up the independent role, which for the first time will also represent small businesses as well as households.

According to Ofgem, the new service is replacing its own voluntary scheme which was established in 2006 with an initiative that all energy suppliers and providers have been urged to join.

The ombudsman has retained its power to award energy customers affected by problems up to £5,000 in compensation.

Earlier this week, Ofgem announced it has agreed new plans with the government to make it easier for local electricity generators to supply customers.

It is thought that the moves will help generation schemes avoid "costly, complex and time consuming" measures that are currently in place.

The organisation also hopes the plans will give consumers more choice in where they receive their electricity from.