Energy & Utilities Insights
Insights
Actionable insights for the sector's most pressing topics
Challenges like rising debt, sustainability targets, and regulatory reforms are driving suppliers to fundamentally rethink how they operate. At the same time, these shifts present opportunities to differentiate, drive innovation, and enhance customer service. As organisations attempt to balance financial performance with compliance and customer satisfaction, staying ahead of competitors is crucial.
Leveraging the deep expertise of our industry specialists, we help energy and utilities providers to tackle these challenges, and capitalise on opportunities shaping the future of the sector.
INSIGHTS
Energy & Utilities
Dynamic Tariff Strategy: Five commercial considerations for energy retailers
A new wave of innovation is sweeping the domestic energy market. As we explored in our previous blog, suppliers are introducing a range of new tariffs designed for EVs, heat pumps, time-of-use patterns and more. Whilst this innovation creates exciting opportunities, it also introduces complexity, and with complexity, comes commercial risk.
Bringing Clarity to Dynamic Tariffs: A framework for energy retailers
Dynamic tariffs present new opportunities for the energy market, but they also bring a growing challenge. How can suppliers offer smarter, more flexible products - without overwhelming customers, confusing internal teams, or diluting commercial performance?
March saw 320k customer switches, with discounts available before April Price Cap
320k domestic customers switched energy supplier in March, seeking savings ahead of the April 2025 Price Cap. This marks a rebound to 70% of pre-crisis switching levels (which averaged 475k per month), as the Price Cap was set to rise, and customers were able to lock in fixed deals £250 below the upcoming cap.
Heat Network Regulation: Action plan for future market leaders
In part two of our Heat Network Regulation article, we turn to the important question of what those in the sector should be doing right now to prepare. This is both an opportunity and a risk for heat network suppliers. Those who can get it right will stand to win from the coming growth in the market. Those who get it wrong will find themselves exposed, and eventually, risk exiting the market.
Video: Achieve 5-10x ROI with Leadership Excellence
In our latest video, Kev Brown and the team explore how immersive coaching has transformed service culture for our clients, delivering 5-10x ROI. We also explore what our Leadership Excellence programme involves day-to-day, with hands-on coaching from experienced operational leaders, and psychometric testing in our Diagnostic and Design phases.
The Leadership Advantage: How psychometrics drive differentiation for utility providers
Utility providers have real opportunities to differentiate through stronger, human-led service - with operational leadership a key lever. As we explore in this article, psychometric tools can be used to enhance day-to-day leadership, frontline performance, and customer outcomes.
Reclaiming Lost Efficiency: How Utilities can revitalise back office automation
Many suppliers have seen early automation gains fade, but significant opportunities remain. We've explored why automation value drops over time, and how suppliers can reclaim lost efficiency to future-proof operations.
Using customer insights to drive loyalty, efficiency, and growth in Utilities
With many suppliers running similar systems, CX is becoming a key battleground in Utilities. This article explores how turning feedback into action can improve service, reduce costs, and build loyalty.
Heat Network Regulation: The compliance countdown that will define future players
In January 2026, the UK heat network sector faces a huge transformation. As Ofgem takes regulatory control, suppliers face a stark choice: adapt quickly to thrive in a growing market or risk business failure under unprecedented scrutiny. With less than nine months to prepare, the clock is ticking - and many suppliers remain dangerously unprepared.
Domestic heat pump installs have trebled since 2022
Our analysis shows Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) installations have seen a 3x increase in monthly installs since 2022. After a significant peak and drop when the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme closed in 2022, demand has recovered strongly and continued to grow.
Solar installs are up ~400% since the SEG Scheme began
At 15k installs per month, demand for domestic solar has grown by ~418% since 2020 - an annual growth rate of ~60%. The biggest incentive for installing solar panels is currently due to avoided import costs; but attractive SEG export tariffs now offered by suppliers increase the overall economic benefit to consumers.
SMEs hold the key to significant margin growth for energy suppliers
SMEs make up 99.9% of UK businesses and account for a significant share of energy consumption - yet they remain one of the most underserved customer segments. As margins tighten and the Net Zero transition gathers pace, SMEs represent a major commercial and strategic opportunity for suppliers ready to act. So how can you engage them - at the right time, with the right offer?
Energy & Utilities
Meet the Team
Ian Barker
Managing Partner
Ian shapes the BFY vision and inspires our team to bring it to life, while remaining central to complex client engagements in Strategy, Commercial, and Operations.
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Rachel Littlewood
Director
Rachel leads our operational and financial turnaround engagements, helping to solve complex operational challenges while maximising commercial performance and customer outcomes.
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Tom Bromwich
Director
Tom leads client engagements with a particular focus on commercial strategy, pricing, customer acquisition and retention.
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Kelly Payne
Director
Kelly helps clients achieve operational excellence to improve customer outcomes, employee engagement, and optimising cost to serve.
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Kevin Scott
Director
Kevin leads client engagements with a laser focus on empowering clients to navigate large-scale events and market challenges.
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Our Impact
Strategic analysis identifies ~£103m in opportunities for energy retailer
We delivered strategic analysis for a large energy retailer, identifying up to ~£103m in incremental revenue opportunities, through a comprehensive Market Scan Analysis and Sales Channel Maturity Assessment.
Cash recovery initiatives deliver ~£275m benefit for large Energy supplier
Our debt team supported a large Energy supplier with recovering their cash position, achieving a total benefit of ~£275m through collaborative initiatives.
£4.5m in Bad Debt benefits for large energy retailer
We helped a large energy retailer to generate immediate in-year debt benefits through tactical interventions. Our programme delivered ~£4.5m in Bad Debt benefit and ~£8.5m in cash collection, all while maintaining customer and productivity measures within the operation.
Large energy supplier avoids ~£7.5m in complaints costs
We supported a large energy supplier with a transformation programme, looking at how they can manage their complaints inflow and address the growing backlog. The programme transformed their complaints capability and resulted in ~£7.5m in cost avoidance.
Collections improvements deliver ~£5m cash for Water retailer
We supported a B2B Water retailer with a series of collections improvements, achieving a cash uplift of ~£5m in five months.
Tactical debt improvements deliver ~£7m cash for large Energy retailer
A large Energy retailer was facing significant challenges with customer debt, requiring improvements to their collections processes to mitigate this. Their total debt was ~£100m at the time of engaging BFY, with communication gaps present across the customer debt journey.
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