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Welcome to the April 2026 issue of the policythinking.co.uk Consumer Policy Monitor. This month's coverage centres on two areas where regulatory activity has intensified: the energy sector, where revised pricing frameworks are moving through consultation, and financial services, where conduct standards are under active review. Across all areas we track, the pace of policy development remains steady as agencies and government departments respond to shifting market conditions.
Energy
The government announced plans to reform Ofgem, giving the energy regulator stronger powers to ensure consumers are treated fairly by energy suppliers. [DESNZ]
Ofgem data shows total energy debt reached a record £4.55 billion at the end of 2025, an 18% increase year on year, according to figures reported by Credit-Connect. [Credit-Connect]
Energy providers in Great Britain are offering customers the option to receive free electricity at times of high renewable generation through the Demand Flexibility Service, allowing eligible households to run appliances at no cost during qualifying periods. [Which?]
DESNZ published interim evaluation findings for the Warm Home Discount scheme covering 2022 to 2024, assessing the scheme's delivery and outcomes for eligible households. [DESNZ]
Cornwall Insights has forecast that a typical annual gas and electricity bill will rise to £1,929 from July 2026 under Ofgem's quarterly price cap, an increase of £288, or 18%, from the current level. [Credit-Connect]
The government announced measures to decouple electricity prices from gas prices, with the stated aim of reducing household exposure to gas market volatility. [DESNZ]
Energy UK responded to the government's gas and electricity pricing announcement, which also included measures to increase uptake of electric vehicles, heat pumps, and solar power. [Energy UK]
The Resolution Foundation published analysis of the government's proposed gas-electricity price de-linking policy, examining its implications for household energy costs. [Resolution Foundation]
DESNZ and Ofgem published a joint update on the delivery of connections reform, including data on the level of battery storage capacity within the reformed grid connections queue. [Ofgem]
The government announced an expansion of low-carbon heat networks in Wales, with the stated aim of reducing energy bills for participating households and businesses. [DESNZ]
DESNZ opened a consultation on proposals to introduce a minimum energy efficiency standard for socially rented homes in England for the first time. [DESNZ]
Financial Services & Banking
The FCA has launched a review into whether annual percentage rates (APRs) are effectively supporting consumers in making informed financial choices. [FCA]
The government has announced measures to help young people locate Child Trust Funds, accounts set up on their behalf that many holders are unaware of or unable to trace. [HM Treasury]
The government announced a package of measures during London Fintech Week aimed at preparing the UK payments sector for future technological developments in financial services. [HM Treasury]
HM Treasury has opened a consultation on proposals to consolidate the Payment Systems Regulator within the Financial Conduct Authority, with the aim of streamlining oversight of payment systems. [HM Treasury]
Leading lenders, in a report published by the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME), have called for an overhaul of UK banking regulation, citing frustrations with the current framework. [Credit-Connect]
Mortgage rates have risen following the onset of conflict in the Middle East, with some homeowners facing increases in annual mortgage costs of around £4,000. [Credit-Connect]
Haboo Money, a consumer credit engagement platform, has entered a partnership with Transave Credit Union to modernise how the credit union communicates and engages with its members digitally. [Credit-Connect]
The Financial Ombudsman Service published its Plans and Budget for the 2026/27 financial year on 31 March 2026, setting out its priorities for service delivery and planned reforms for the year ahead. [Financial Ombudsman Service]
The FCA and PRA have confirmed changes to the senior manager accountability framework, intended to reduce regulatory complexity and support economic growth. [Bank of England]
With CPI inflation at 3.3% in March 2026, the Governor of the Bank of England wrote an open letter to the Chancellor on 30 April 2026 explaining the deviation from the 2% target, to which the Chancellor replied the same day. [HM Treasury]
The government is consulting on reforms to the Senior Managers and Certification Regime, with the stated aim of streamlining its requirements to support growth and the competitiveness of the financial services sector. [HM Treasury]
Debt & Personal Finance
The Insolvency Service has opened a consultation on options to reform the corporate civil enforcement regime, seeking views from stakeholders on how the system should be updated. [Insolvency Service]
The Insolvency Service published its monthly insolvency statistics for March 2026, covering the numbers, rates, and sectors of companies entering formal insolvency procedures in England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. [Insolvency Service]
Turn2us published a summary of benefit rate increases taking effect in April 2026, setting out the revised payment levels across a range of welfare benefits. [Turn2us]
Christians Against Poverty published a guide to April 2026 cost-of-living changes, covering adjustments to pensions, benefits, energy prices, and related household costs. [Christians Against Poverty]
Policy in Practice issued its April 2026 newsletter covering changes to the benefit system and noted £54 million in oil support, with analysis of how the policy changes translate into practice for claimants. [Policy in Practice]
StepChange reports that almost half of adults in Great Britain are worried about paying their energy bills, according to its latest survey findings. [StepChange]
The DWP announced that tens of thousands of unpaid carers affected by unclear guidance on earnings thresholds for Carer's Allowance are to have their debts reduced, cancelled, or refunded following a government-launched reassessment of cases. [DWP]
The DWP introduced legislation on 9 April 2026 giving disabled benefit claimants the right to try work without immediately losing their benefits, aimed at removing a barrier to employment for this group. [DWP]
The DWP published a summary of the Right to Try regulations under The Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment and Employment and Support Allowance (Amendment) Regulations 2026, setting out how disabled claimants may attempt work without their benefits being withdrawn. [DWP]
The DWP opened a consultation on proposals to implement measures under the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023, including proposed changes to Housing Benefit Regulations governing supported housing provision. [DWP]
The DWP published impact and process evaluation findings for the PIP Digital Self-Serve application route, examining how the online channel has performed and its effect on claimants applying for Personal Independence Payment. [DWP]
The DWP published the independent review of earnings-related Carer's Allowance overpayments, led by Liz Sayce OBE, alongside the government's response to the review's recommendations. [DWP]
The DWP released estimated figures for Cold Weather Payments made in England and Wales between 1 November 2025 and 31 March 2026, covering the full 2025–26 payment season. [DWP]
The DWP published an evaluation summary for the PIP Digital Self-Serve application route, bringing together key findings on the performance and claimant experience of the online application process. [DWP]
The DWP created a dedicated page consolidating publications related to the Timms Review of Personal Independence Payment, which is examining the design and operation of the PIP assessment system. [DWP]
The DWP published statistics on the number of Universal Credit claimants with a health condition or disability that restricts their ability to work, covering outcomes from the Work Capability Assessment process. [DWP]
The DWP published guidance explaining how the Universal Credit claimant commitment operates and what claimants are expected to do in order to receive their payments. [DWP]
The DWP published the monthly Universal Credit Local Housing Allowance rates for England, Scotland, and Wales covering April 2026 to March 2027, setting the reference rents used to calculate housing support for claimants. [DWP]
AI & Innovation
Ofcom research published in 2025 found that UK adults are increasingly engaging in passive social media consumption, using AI companionship tools, and generating income through online side hustles, reflecting shifts in how people interact with digital platforms. [Ofcom]
Polling organisations are exploring whether AI-assisted data collection, which is faster and cheaper than traditional methods, can match or improve the accuracy of conventional opinion surveys. [BBC News]
Spotify does not offer users the option to filter out AI-generated music, a feature that rival streaming service Deezer has introduced, leaving a difference in how the two platforms handle listener preferences around AI content. [BBC News]
A study by the Money Advice Liaison Group (MALG) and AI firm Wyser found that generative AI, deployed with human oversight, could reshape the UK's regulated debt advice sector by improving the scale and consistency of advice delivery. [Credit-Connect]
Research by accountancy firm BDO found that mid-market businesses hold a broadly positive outlook on near-term AI investment, with the majority expecting returns from their spending on the technology. [Credit-Connect]
Housing & Rental
Government homelessness statistics show child homelessness in England has reached a record high for the 17th consecutive time, according to Shelter. [Shelter]
The Renters' Rights Act, described as the most substantial overhaul of renting rules in England in 30 years, has come into force, affecting the rights and obligations of millions of tenants and landlords. [BBC News]
Solicitors reported a late surge in requests to serve section 21 no-fault eviction notices ahead of the Renters' Rights Act coming into force, with advice charities also handling a rise in tenant enquiries in the same period. [The Guardian]
The Housing Ombudsman has published its Business Plan for 2026–27, incorporating several changes made in response to feedback received during the consultation period. [Housing Ombudsman]
Regulatory & Competition
The CMA has ordered AA Driving School and BSM Driving School — both owned by the AA — to refund more than 80,000 customers and pay a fine of £4.2 million following a finding that the companies engaged in drip pricing by presenting mandatory fees only late in the booking process. [CMA]
The government has announced new rules targeting subscription contracts it describes as unwanted or misleading, with an estimated saving to consumers of around £400 million per year, including measures to make cancellation easier. [Credit-Connect]
Citizens Advice reports that it is supporting more than 200 people a day with issues including housing disrepair, no-fault evictions, and rent increases, as legislation reforming the private rental sector comes into force. [Citizens Advice]
The CMA is consulting on recent developments relating to Apple's and Google's app store rules, inviting views as part of its ongoing oversight of the two platforms. [CMA]
The CMA has launched a market study into the retail supply of heating oil for domestic use in the UK, examining how competition functions in that market. [CMA]
Ofcom has launched an investigation into whether BT complied with formal information requests issued by the regulator. [Ofcom]
The CMA has published a register of measures it has put in place under the digital markets competition regime, providing a reference point for obligations on designated firms. [CMA]
The CMA has published orders and a tank transfer price calculator intended to make it easier for domestic LPG customers to switch supplier. [CMA]
The CMA has concluded its inquiry into the completed acquisition by Société LDC SA of Green Label Holdings Limited, a merger in the poultry sector. [GOV.UK Email]
Which? has found that weak identity verification checks at mobile networks leave customers exposed to SIM-swap fraud. [Which?]
NS&I has raised rates on its fixed-term bonds, with products now paying up to 4.5% and all its fixed deals placing within the top 20 on the market. [Which?]
Which? has examined the cost of life insurance for consumers seeking affordable cover, noting that premiums vary according to health status and the type of policy chosen. [Which?]
Which? has gathered accounts from members on their experiences of obtaining professional financial advice for pension planning, as part of broader coverage of retirement decision-making. [Which?]
Upcoming Deadlines
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Welcome to the March 2026 issue of the policythinking.co.uk Consumer Policy Monitor. This month's edition examines developments across the energy and financial services sectors, where regulatory activity has been particularly concentrated in recent weeks. Readers will also find analysis of emerging debt and personal finance trends alongside updates from the Competition and Markets Authority and associated bodies.
Energy
The government has announced that plug-in solar panels will be available in shops within months, allowing households to generate their own electricity without installation by a professional. [DESNZ]
Citizens Advice reports that it is providing crisis support to a consumer every 30 seconds, ahead of forthcoming increases to household energy bills. [Citizens Advice]
Which? has reported that energy bills are falling for consumers on variable tariffs, even as global energy prices rise, and sets out the implications for those on variable and fixed tariffs. [Which?]
DESNZ has published its 2026 fuel poverty statistics report, incorporating data from both 2024 and 2025. [DESNZ]
Citizens Advice warns that 14 million households are served by energy suppliers rated below average for customer service, based on its annual supplier rating exercise. [Citizens Advice]
The Secretary of State and Ofgem have written jointly to Third Party Intermediaries (TPIs) setting out expectations on how they should support energy consumers. [DESNZ]
DESNZ is consulting on proposed changes to the inflation indexation methodology applied to payments under the Feed-in Tariffs (FiT) scheme. [DESNZ]
DESNZ is consulting on the design of a bill discount scheme intended to provide direct financial benefits to households living near new or substantially upgraded electricity transmission infrastructure. [DESNZ]
DESNZ publishes quarterly and annual estimates of the total number of energy supplier switches made by domestic electricity and gas customers. [DESNZ]
Financial Services & Banking
Millions of consumers may be entitled to compensation following the FCA's confirmation of a redress scheme covering commission arrangements between car finance lenders and dealers. [BBC News]
HM Treasury announced measures targeting food prices, energy bills, and profiteering, framing the package as action on cost-of-living pressures alongside longer-term energy security goals. [HM Treasury]
HM Treasury has announced a package of reforms to the Financial Ombudsman Service, aimed at delivering faster and more impartial complaint resolution. [HM Treasury]
Consumer advocates have warned of a rise in so-called friendship fraud, a scam in which fraudsters exploit the isolation of older people to build false relationships, often with serious financial consequences for victims. [The Guardian]
The government has allocated over £50 million to help households meet rising heating oil costs, targeting families facing pressure from elevated domestic fuel prices. [HM Treasury]
Regulators have launched a joint taskforce to address poor practice in motor finance claims handling, following the confirmation of the FCA's redress scheme on 30 March 2026. [FCA]
The government published plans during Debt Awareness Week to provide clearer and more tailored repayment support for people who owe money to government departments, with the aim of making repayment schedules more proportionate to individual circumstances. [HM Treasury]
The government announced reforms to extend the reach of credit unions, widening access to low-cost borrowing and savings products for households currently underserved by mainstream lenders. [HM Treasury]
Mortgage lenders signed the Mortgage Charter 2026, committing to a set of standards that provide borrowers with additional short-term flexibilities to manage their mortgage payments. [HM Treasury]
HM Treasury launched a call for evidence on whether to reform the common bond membership requirement for credit unions in Great Britain under the Credit Unions Act 1979, seeking views on the potential merits and implications of such a change. [HM Treasury]
HM Treasury published information on the Financial Inclusion Committee, including its terms of reference and membership, setting out the body's role in addressing barriers to financial access. [HM Treasury]
Debt & Personal Finance
The DWP has closed two legacy benefits — Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance (income-based) — following the completion of its Move to Universal Credit migration campaign. [DWP]
The Insolvency Service has released February 2026 monthly insolvency figures for England and Wales and Northern Ireland, covering bankruptcies, Debt Relief Orders, and Individual Voluntary Arrangements. [Insolvency Service]
The Insolvency Service has published updated guidance for debt advisers on Debt Relief Orders, covering eligibility and application processes. [Insolvency Service]
StepChange's 2025 data show that arrears in energy, housing, and household bills have continued to rise, with the charity warning of growing pressure on those already in financial difficulty. [StepChange]
The DWP has published guidance for new creditors, including utility suppliers and landlords, on how to apply for direct deductions from a claimant's ESA, JSA, or Pension Credit payments. [DWP]
The DWP has issued a toolkit for local authorities, housing providers, and support organisations covering the operation and implications of the spare room subsidy reduction in the social rented sector. [DWP]
The DWP has created a dedicated page bringing together all publications related to the Timms Review, which is examining reform of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment and eligibility criteria. [DWP]
StepChange reports that approximately 1,500 people were threatened with imprisonment for council tax arrears over the five years to 2025, highlighting the use of committal proceedings by local authorities. [StepChange]
StepChange data show that half of victim-survivors who experienced coerced debt — debt taken out under duress by an abusive partner — reported a negative impact on their credit record as a result. [StepChange]
The co-chairs of the Timms Review published a progress update in March 2026, setting out developments in the review of Personal Independence Payment assessment and eligibility. [DWP]
Regulatory & Competition
The CMA has opened investigations into five businesses over alleged use of fake reviews and misleading star ratings, as part of its broader effort to enforce consumer protection standards online. [CMA]
The CMA has published guidance on how agentic AI may affect consumers, how existing law applies to such systems, and what steps businesses should take to manage compliance risk. [CMA]
The CMA has designated Google as having strategic market status (SMS) in general search and search advertising, a finding that triggers obligations under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act. [CMA]
The CMA has launched a market study into the UK's private dentistry sector, which it values at £8 billion, to assess whether the market is functioning in consumers' interests. [CMA]
The CMA has opened an investigation into hotel chains to determine whether they used a shared data services provider to exchange commercially sensitive information in ways that may have reduced competition. [CMA]
The CMA has set out its work programme for promoting competition and innovation in digital markets, reflecting its new powers under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act. [CMA]
Citizens Advice has published a response to the government's announcement of reforms to the WaterSure scheme, which provides bill support to eligible low-income and high-use water customers. [Citizens Advice]
The CMA has announced a package of measures on business software and cloud services, with the stated aim of expanding choice for UK businesses and the public sector as AI capabilities develop. [CMA]
Upcoming Deadlines
Open consultation
Social Housing Tenure Standard: Direction to the Regulator of Social Housing
Open consultation
Product regulation: the UK’s new product safety framework
Open consultation
Open consultation
Warm Home Discount Guidance 2026: Draft for comment
Ofgem
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