UK domestic energy contracts, the 28 day rule, and experience in Sweden

Stephen Littlechild

Cambridge Working Papers in Economics from Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge

Abstract: In the UK, domestic customers must be able to terminate energy contracts at 28 days’ notice. This has been seen as a transitional protection for customers and for competition. This paper reviews the arguments for and against the 28 day rule, and examines the extent to which UK suppliers have offered fixed-price fixed-term contracts. It also looks at experience in Sweden, where there is no such restriction and where there is greater use of fixed-price fixed-term contracts. The paper concludes that there is no longer a need for the 28 day rule to protect customers, and that it is more likely to restrict than to protect competition.

Keywords: competition; electricity; regulation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L51 L94 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 35
Date: 2004-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-eec and nep-fin
Note: CMI45, IO
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Working Paper: UK domestic energy contracts, the 28 day rule, and experience in Sweden (2004)
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