London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Jun 02, 2025

Ministers spark energy regulator board overhaul amid prepayment meter scandal

Ministers spark energy regulator board overhaul amid prepayment meter scandal

Three members of Ofgem's six-strong board are likely to step down this year as Grant Shapps pushes for new blood at the under-fire energy regulator.

The government is preparing to replace a slate of Ofgem's directors this year as the energy regulator faces intense criticism over its handling of the prepayment meters scandal.

Sky News understands that the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (ESNZ) has begun recruiting a new chair for the watchdog, as well as four non-executive board members.

The Ofgem board currently comprises Professor Martin Cave, who will step down as chairman in October when his five-year term expires, a slate of independent directors and Jonathan Brearley, its chief executive.

Two non-executives who have already departed will be replaced, while two more - Lynne Embleton and John Crackett - have terms expiring later this year.

A further two board members are due to serve until 2025.

An Ofgem spokesperson said its chairman "will not be seeking reappointment for the role".

"The chair will be appointed by the Secretary of State for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero who are overseeing the selection process."

Insiders at the watchdog disputed the characterisation of the recruitment process as a clearout and insisted that it represented "business as usual appointments related to the natural expiry of contracts and standard procedure".

Jonathan Brearley is Ofgem's chief executive

They insisted that Ms Embleton and Mr Crackett could be reappointed to serve a further five-year term, while the non-executive contingent could swell to as many as eight directors before reducing as appointment terms come to an end.

Nevertheless, many industry executives have been pressing for an overhaul of the Ofgem board for some time.

Mr Brearley has also come under intense pressure, with former prime minister Gordon Brown saying he should consider resigning over the scandal which saw thousands of vulnerable households forced to install costlier prepayment meters.

Ofgem has since unveiled a series of measures to crack down on misconduct by energy suppliers.

The board recruitment process is being run by Audeliss Executive Search.

Potential candidates for the chair role have been given until the middle of next month to apply for the role, which pays up to £180,000-a-year for an average of about three days a week.

Ofgem's new non-executive directors will receive annual fees of £20,000.

A government spokesperson said: "Ofgem protects consumers and ensures effective energy regulation in Great Britain, and the roles of chair and board members of Ofgem are essential to that purpose.

"Audeliss are specialists in the recruitment of diverse executive and board level appointments.

"The recruitment process is in progress.

"The new Ofgem chair and non-executive directors will be announced in due course."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
U.S. Goods Imports Plunge Nearly 20% Amid Tariff Disruptions
OpenAI Faces Competition from Cheaper AI Rivals
Foreign Tax Provision in U.S. Budget Bill Alarms Investors
Trump Accuses China of Violating Trade Agreement
Gerry Adams Wins Libel Case Against BBC
Russia Accuses Serbia of Supplying Arms to Ukraine
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
Chinese Woman Dies After Being Forced to Visit Bank Despite Critical Illness
President Trump Grants Full Pardons to Reality TV Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley
Texas Enacts App Store Accountability Act Mandating Age Verification
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Vatican Calls for Sustainable Tourism in 2025 Message
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
×