Citizens Response to Ofgem’s consultation on the renewal of Ban on Acquisition-only Tariffs after March 2026
Citizens Advice supports the consultation proposal to extend the BAT for a further year, until 31 March 2027.
The BAT continues to: help ensure fair pricing for all consumers; improve choice for indebted and/or vulnerable customers; help rebuild consumer trust in energy suppliers; contribute to wider market stability and resilience.
In recent years there has been a consistent upward trend in customers switching tariffs, and greater consumer interest in switching, which indicates that switching may be returning to more historically typical levels. This reinforces previously held assumptions that BAT is not acting to stymie supplier competition, nor consumer engagement, to the extent that merits removing it.
Overall, we support a permanent retention of the BAT, particularly in light of the need for price protection and regulatory consistency in a market transitioning to net zero.