Energy network owners have made £3.9bn ‘excess profit’ from higher bills, says report
Citizens Advice believes Ofgem made flawed interest rate calculation for companies in Great Britain
The companies behind Great Britain’s gas pipes and power lines have pocketed a windfall of nearly £4bn from household bills during the energy and cost crisis, according to a report.
The analysis, by Citizens Advice, argued that energy network owners were able to make the “excess profits” over the past four years after the industry regulator misjudged their costs.
The companies may have made up to £3.9bn more because Ofgem overestimated their borrowing costs as interest rates began to climb, the report calculated. It found that Ofgem allowed regional network companies to recover these costs from household bills even though many were able to secure fixed-rate terms on some of their borrowing which helped them to avoid the impact of rising interest rates.
The flaw in Ofgem’s regulation, which applies from 2021 to 2028, has meant that households were forced to pay billions in undeserved profits to companies during the cost of living crisis while racking up record levels of debt, according to Citizens Advice.
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Article continues at https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/feb/20/energy-network-owners-have-made-39bn-from-higher-bills-says-report