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The information below comes from the UK Activity Report.
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Ofgas Ofgas is to investigate alleged unfair practices in the industrial and commercial gas market, as companies have been claiming that they were prevented from changing supplier by anti-competitive measures taken by their existing suppliers. 29-Jul-1998 Ofgas has announced proposals to end BG's gas storage monopoly, which include the auctioning of 46% of its delivery capacity to rival suppliers under long-term contracts. 18-Jul-1998 Ofgas has reported that 19% of domestic gas customers have either switched or are planning to switch suppliers, due to the removal of the British Gas monopoly as the market opens up to competition. 25-Apr-1998 Ofgas is planning to review the market for gas storage, and an investigation by the Monopolies & Mergers Commission could follow. 13-Apr-1998 Ofgas has ordered Utilities Limited to stop selling gas on behalf of Northern Electric for the next two weeks following complaints of improper selling practices. 24-Feb-1998 Ofgas has dropped plans to prevent electricity companies from winning new gas customers in their regions until their regions are opened up to competition in electricity, a decision which has angered the largest gas supplier Centrica. 28-Jan-1998 Ofgas has announced tougher penalties for gas companies found guilty of rogue selling practices, including fines and freezes on marketing campaigns. 16-Jan-1998 BG has reached a compromise agreement with Ofgas which could result in cuts of up to a quarter in gas transportation charges and a possible £34 annual saving for households. 15-Oct-1997 Ofgas has announced that the next stage of competition in the domestic gas market will start in November, when consumers in the north of England and Scotland will be able to select their supplier. 01-Jul-1997 Ofgas is launching an investigation into whether Centrica's Goldfish credit card, which allows users to accrue points for offsetting against gas bills, is anti-competitive. 31-May-1997 Centrica has won Ofgas approval to offer 5% discounts to direct debit customers in the south west of England, the test area for gas supply competition, but Ofgas has warned that this should not be seen as a precedent for other areas. 29-May-1997 Scottish Power has been awarded a gas transporter licence by Ofgas, which will enable it to install gas pipelines as part of a "total utilities solution" for housing and industrial developments. 23-May-1997 British Gas has reached an agreement with Ofgas that will reduce domestic gas bills by an average £7 next year, with British Gas agreeing to the reductions in return for more flexibility on setting tariffs once the industry is fully opened up to competition. 09-Nov-1996 Ofgas, the gas industry regulator, has revised its proposals for the price control of British Gas' pipeline operation, in which it calls for a 20% cut in gas transportation prices next year followed by 2.5% cuts in each of the next four years. 22-Aug-1996 Ofgas, the industry regulator, has announced a new range of price controls for British Gas Energy, which could result in a £8 reduction in household gas bills next year. 07-Jun-1996 Ofgas, the industry regulator, has proposed a new pricing formula for Transco, British Gas' pipeline operation, which would cut household bills by 10%. 14-May-1996 Ofgas has granted licences to nine companies to compete in the open gas market in the south west from April 29. 20-Mar-1996 The introduction of competition to the domestic gas market is likely to be speeded up, with Ofgas expected to get permission to bring forward the schedule for full competition to January 1 1998. 01-Mar-1996 Ofgas has said it will not take into account the British Gas financial problems from long-term contracts when it sets new price controls this year. 17-Jan-1996 The government is considering the merger of Offer with Ofgas to form one regulator for the electricity and gas markets. 19-Oct-1995 The information above comes from the UK Activity Report Copyright UK Business Park 1995-2007