Dramatic changes in energy have been floated by both the Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc) and regulator Ofgem. Decc has announced plans for technical changes that could radically alter how customers interact with the market, while Ofgem has flagged up plans for a more active and flexible approach to local electricity networks.

Ofgem will enable domestic customers to make use of half-hourly settlement (HHS) “by early 2017”, Decc announced in a “departmental plan” to 2020. Decc also announced an “aim” to allow customers to switch in one day by 2018.