The Competition and Markets Authority has set a 24 October deadline for submissions to its market study on data comparison tools, including price comparison websites that cover the energy industry.

The CMA expects its market study into the tools to be completed within a year.

Among the questions posed by the Authority are several about competition between tools: it wants to know whether they can compete, whether there are barriers, and whether they can have access to enough data about consumers or suppliers.  The Authority also wants to know whether there are concerns over the tools: are there areas where regulation lacks clarity, certainty, consistency or enforcement; are there areas where comparison tools fail to meet competition or consumer protection requirements; and should other regulations be updated.

The CMA investigation comes as some in the energy industry have expressed concern that regulator Ofgem has lifted a regulation that requires comparison websites to show the ‘whole of the market’ when showing energy deals or offering new, later, deals like annual reviews.

Responses can be emailed to [email protected]