How we’re doing with your energy complaints
We strive to give you excellent service which is why we take every complaint seriously. We use feedback from complaints to improve the level of service that we can provide and prevent issues from occurring in the first place.
Our latest report is from 1st January to 31st March 2021 (first quarter).
How we're doing
| Reporting period | Complaints received | Received per 100k customer accounts | Complaints resolved | Resolved per 100k customer accounts | % resolved same or next working day | % resolved within 8 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 2020 | 131,949 | 1,130 | 127,794 | 1,095 | 41.7% | 88.7% |
| Q2 2020 | 68,085 | 590 | 65,818 | 570 | 52.7% | 87.8% |
| Q3 2020 | 105,651 | 926 | 94,098 | 825 | 56.3% | 92.3% |
| Q4 2020 | 120,040 | 1,039 | 109,000 | 944 | 51.4% | 92.3% |
| Q1 2021 | 130,482 | 1,135 | 124,758 | 1,085 | 63.1% | 92.9% |
Reporting period
Q1 2020
Complaints received
131,949
Received per 100k customer accounts
1,130
Complaints resolved
127,794
Resolved per 100k customer accounts
1,095
% resolved same or next working day
41.7%
% resolved within 8 weeks
88.7%
Reporting period
Q2 2020
Complaints received
68,085
Received per 100k customer accounts
590
Complaints resolved
65,818
Resolved per 100k customer accounts
570
% resolved same or next working day
52.7%
% resolved within 8 weeks
87.8%
Reporting period
Q3 2020
Complaints received
105,651
Received per 100k customer accounts
926
Complaints resolved
94,098
Resolved per 100k customer accounts
825
% resolved same or next working day
56.3%
% resolved within 8 weeks
92.3%
Reporting period
Q4 2020
Complaints received
120,040
Received per 100k customer accounts
1,039
Complaints resolved
109,000
Resolved per 100k customer accounts
944
% resolved same or next working day
51.4%
% resolved within 8 weeks
92.3%
Reporting period
Q1 2021
Complaints received
130,482
Received per 100k customer accounts
1,135
Complaints resolved
124,758
Resolved per 100k customer accounts
1,085
% resolved same or next working day
63.1%
% resolved within 8 weeks
92.9%
What happened in Q1 2021?
- We resolved a total of 124,758 complaints in Q1 which is 1,085 complaints per 100k customer accounts.
- We saw an increase in the proportion of complaints resolved on the same or next working day and consistent performance within eight weeks compared to last quarter. Resolving complaints quickly remains a key priority for us, and we are introducing new ways of working to ensure we do this. Our continued investment in customer service includes providing further training for our people, as well as improving our processes and systems.
- We’re working hard to reduce the number of complaints referred to the Ombudsman Service. It is our intention to always resolve complaints quickly, without the need for our customers to escalate issues. We received 2,291 Ombudsman complaints in Quarter 1, which is just 12.5% of the total complaints taken on by the Ombudsman across all suppliers.
What does the Ombudsman do?
They take on complaints if we haven’t resolved them within eight weeks or if we’ve sent you a final position letter, you may choose to escalate this to the Ombudsman for them to take a look.
We work closely with the Ombudsman to help us understand why customers escalate their complaints to them. This helps us to improve our internal policies and procedures to reduce the need for escalation to the Ombudsman or other organisation.
Top five complaint reasons
| As a percentage of the total complaints received | Q1 2020 | Q2 2020 | Q3 2020 | Q4 2020 | Q1 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billing | 22% | 28% | 24% | 23% | 24% |
| Payments | 20% | 23% | 21% | 20% | 18% |
| Metering | 16% | 8% | 14% | 16% | 17% |
| Customer Service |
13% | 9% | 12% | 11% | 10% |
| Credit Management | 7% | 9% | 9% | 8% | 8% |
As a percentage of the total complaints received
Q1 2020
22%
Q2 2020
28%
Q3 2020
24%
Q4 2020
23%
Q1 2021
24%
As a percentage of the total complaints received
Q1 2020
20%
Q2 2020
23%
Q3 2020
21%
Q4 2020
20%
Q1 2021
18%
As a percentage of the total complaints received
Q1 2020
16%
Q2 2020
8%
Q3 2020
14%
Q4 2020
16%
Q1 2021
17%
As a percentage of the total complaints received
Q1 2020
13%
Q2 2020
9%
Q3 2020
12%
Q4 2020
11%
Q1 2021
10%
As a percentage of the total complaints received
Q1 2020
7%
Q2 2020
9%
Q3 2020
9%
Q4 2020
8%
Q1 2021
8%
Previously reported complaints performance
| Reporting period | Complaints received | Received per 100k customer accounts | Complaints resolved | Resolved per 100k customer accounts | % resolved same or next working day | % resolved within 8 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q3 2018 | 180,778 | 1,486 | 176,395 | 1,450 | 59.9% | 92.3% |
| Q4 2018 | 188,605 | 1,560 | 188,069 | 1,556 | 57.9% | 92.4% |
| Q1 2019 | 181,622 | 1,524 | 174,047 | 1,460 | 54.7% | 91.2% |
| Q2 2019 | 162,609 | 1,366 | 157,159 | 1,320 | 48.9% | 90.4% |
| Q3 2019 | 145,310 | 1,228 | 137,660 | 1,163 | 41.9% | 88.9% |
| Q4 2019 | 128,980 | 1,092 | 124,024 | 1,050 | 38.1% | 87.7% |
Reporting period
Q3 2018
Complaints received
180,778
Received per 100k customer accounts
1,486
Complaints resolved
176,395
Resolved per 100k customer accounts
1,450
% resolved same or next working day
59.9%
% resolved within 8 weeks
92.3%
Reporting period
Q4 2018
Complaints received
188,605
Received per 100k customer accounts
1,560
Complaints resolved
188,069
Resolved per 100k customer accounts
1,556
% resolved same or next working day
57.9%
% resolved within 8 weeks
92.4%
Reporting period
Q1 2019
Complaints received
181,622
Received per 100k customer accounts
1,524
Complaints resolved
174,047
Resolved per 100k customer accounts
1,460
% resolved same or next working day
54.7%
% resolved within 8 weeks
91.2%
Reporting period
Q2 2019
Complaints received
162,609
Received per 100k customer accounts
1,366
Complaints resolved
157,159
Resolved per 100k customer accounts
1,320
% resolved same or next working day
48.9%
% resolved within 8 weeks
90.4%
Reporting period
Q3 2019
Complaints received
145,310
Received per 100k customer accounts
1,228
Complaints resolved
137,660
Resolved per 100k customer accounts
1,163
% resolved same or next working day
41.9%
% resolved within 8 weeks
88.9%
Reporting period
Q4 2019
Complaints received
128,980
Received per 100k customer accounts
1,092
Complaints resolved
124,024
Resolved per 100k customer accounts
1,050
% resolved same or next working day
38.1%
% resolved within 8 weeks
87.7%
Annual Consumer Complaint Report
View our Annual Consumer Complaint Report, which details how we’ve performed in relation to the number of complaints we weren’t able to resolve on the same, or next working day.
For the reporting period 1st October 2019 to 30th September 2020 this figure was 434,665.
If you would like information on making a complaint, please refer to Complaints.