Environment & Climate

UK energy independence bill targets mis-selling by suppliers and brokers

The Guardian reports the government's energy independence bill would give Ofgem new fining, compensation and banning powers.

Published Nov 4, 2026 · 11:12 UTC1 reports

The short version

The UK government plans to introduce an energy independence bill on Wednesday to tackle mis-selling.[The Guardian]
The bill would let Ofgem order compensation, impose fines and ban operators that push businesses and households into costly contracts.[The Guardian]
Executive bonuses could be curtailed when suppliers or brokers break the rules, with savings of over £100m a year expected.[The Guardian]
Friends of the Earth disputes the fracking moratorium's scope, calling low-volume exemptions a backdoor route.[The Guardian]

The UK government will introduce the energy independence bill on Wednesday.[The Guardian]
The bill would give Ofgem powers to order compensation, impose fines and ban rogue operators.[The Guardian]
Executive bonuses would be curtailed when suppliers and brokers break the rules.[The Guardian]
The move is expected to save businesses more than £100m a year from hidden commissions and mis-selling.[The Guardian]
The bill would introduce a moratorium on new onshore fracking licensing in England.[The Guardian]
Friends of the Earth's Tony Bosworth described low-volume fracking exemptions as a backdoor route.[The Guardian]

The £100m annual savings figure is an expectation rather than a measured outcome.[The Guardian]
Friends of the Earth disputes the fracking moratorium's scope, arguing low-volume exemptions amount to a backdoor route.[The Guardian]
The bill has not yet been introduced, so its final provisions and fracking scope remain unconfirmed.[The Guardian]

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.