Six energy firms under investigation for Cert and Cesp failures

Ofgem has launched an investigation after several energy firms missed government targets to install energy efficiency measures by the December 2012 deadline.

Two energy companies failed to install their quota of insulation under the Cert scheme. Three suppliers and three independent generators fell short of the Cesp targets, a community scheme that focused on some of the poorest areas in Britain.

According to Ofgem, figures SSE performed worst in the Cert energy efficiency scheme. It missed its super priority group (SPG) target for highly vulnerable customers by more than a quarter. However, Ofgem is holding off investigating while it considers extra information from the company.

British Gas was marginally off its insulation sub-target (95.5 per cent complete) and overall target (98.9 per cent).

British Gas came bottom of the “big six” energy firms on Cesp, meeting just 62 per cent. Scottish Power (70 per cent) and SSE (91 per cent) also failed.

They were closer to the mark than generators Intergen (6.5 per cent), GDF Suez/PM (39 per cent) and Drax (37 per cent), however. Only Eggborough complied with its obligation.

Eon, EDF Energy, Npower were the only suppliers to get a clean sweep.

While performance varied across the sector, Ofgem noted that overall 99 per cent of the government’s target had been delivered, amounting to more than 6 million measures. The regulator has also said it will take into consideration measures carried out after the deadline, in mitigation.

Companies that breached their obligations could be fined up to 10 per cent of annual turnover.