The latest report, and the full set of publications since January 2021, can be found here
Tag Archives: S. Littlechild
Stephen Littlechild (EPRG) submitted a response to Ofgem’s consultation on its further work programme, focusing on financial resilience requirements and the price cap.
Please click here to read the response. Continue Reading
Stephen Littlechild (EPRG) has just updated the scores in his Overall Customer Satisfaction league for UK retail energy suppliers.
The latest report, and the full set of publications since January 2021, can be found here Continue Reading
Book Review by: Stephen Littlechild
Stephen Littlechild published a book review in the journal Economics of Energy & Environmental Policy, Volume 11, Number 2 “The Future of Electricity Retailing and How We Get There, by Frank A. Wolak and Ian H. Hardman”. Continue Reading
IAEE award for Stephen Littlechild
In August Stephen Littlechild was awarded the 2022 prize for Outstanding Contributions to the Profession by the International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE). His acceptance speech can be found here Continue Reading
2022 EPRG Spring Seminar
EPRG is pleased to announce our successful 2022 Spring Seminar in partnership with Compass Lexecon. On May 5, 2022, EPRG hosted delegates to a dinner at Downing College, and on May 6, 2022, at Robinson College for a full-day seminar. The first day concluded with a keynote speech given by Dr. Simon Taylor. PROGRAMME 6 MAY 2022… Continue Reading
Speech in honour of Friedrich Hayek by S. Littlechild
Stephen Littlechild’s speech in honour of Friedrich Hayek at the Austrian Embassy, London, 23 March 2022 | PDF Continue Reading
S. Littlechild latest submission to BEIS and Ofgem, January 2022
Stephen Littlechild’s latest submission “The importance of terminating the energy price cap” is his response to BEIS and Ofgem consultations on the retail energy market | PDF An outline of this submission was published in Energy Spectrum by Cornwall Insight on 24 January 2022. You can read it here Continue Reading
Journal Articles: Trilogy by S. Littlechild, Utilities Policy, Vol 73, December 2021
Utilities Policy, Volume 73, December 2021, contains a Special Issue on the Liittlechild Trilogy. These are three articles by Stephen Littlechild on the theme of Exploring customer satisfaction in the GB retail energy sector. The first two describe the use of the Trustpilot customer review site, particularly by GB energy suppliers, and the third calculates… Continue Reading
Presentation “Incentive-based regulation: An historical perspective and a suggestion for the future” by S. Littlechild
Stephen Littlechild gave a presentation “Incentive-based regulation: An historical perspective and a suggestion for the future” at the Florence School of Regulation Regulatory Policy Workshop Series 2021-2022 on 5 November 2021 | PDF Continue Reading
Journal Article ” The challenge of removing a mistaken price cap” by S. Littlechild
Stephen Littlechild wrote an article “The challenge of removing a mistaken price cap” that was published in Economic Affairs Journal in October 2021 issue. You can read a pre-proof copy of the article here and a link to the final published paper is here Continue Reading
Article “The Energy Price Cap Must End” by S. Littlechild
Stephen Littlechild published an article “The Energy Price Cap Must End” in Daily Telegraph on 6 August 2021. You can read the printed version of the article here. Continue Reading
EPRG Working Paper 2118
Stephen Littlechild and Lynne Kiesling Hayek and the Texas blackout Abstract | Non-Technical Summary | Text Continue Reading
Presentation “Some issues in the UK retail energy market” by S. Littlechild
Stephen Littlechild gave a presentation “Some issues in the UK retail energy market” on 2 June 2021. Stephen discussed the impacts of the tariff cap, including some developments in supplier pricing policies. He put some arguments for removing the cap, facilitated by a transition away from it, and discussed developments in the Overall Customer Satisfaction… Continue Reading
S. Littlechild latest submission to Ofgem
Stephen Littlechild’s latest submission to Ofgem “Time to stop digging” is the response to Ofgem’s consultation on its Forward Work Plan | PDF Continue Reading
Article “Developments in the Overall Customer Satisfaction League” by S. Littlechild
Some years ago, Stephen Littlechild developed the concept of an Overall Customer Satisfaction score for suppliers in Great Britain’s retail energy sector (Utilities Policy, vol 73, December 2021). You can read the article here The calculations are updated several times a year as Ofgem, Citizens Advice and Which? ratings are updated, and the updates are… Continue Reading
Article “What are they really like?” by S. Littlechild
Stephen Littlechild published an article “What are they really like?”. It first appeared in Utility Week on 18 December 2020. You can read the article here Continue Reading
Article “What are customers saying?” by S. Littlechild
Stephen Littlechild published an article “What are customers saying?“. It first appeared in Utility Week on 7 December 2020. The article is based on Stephen’s recent EPRG WP2025 You can read the article here Continue Reading
Article “The CMA and Ofwat: Another nail in the coffin?” by S. Littlechild
Stephen Littlechild published an article “The CMA and Ofwat: Another nail in the coffin?“. It first appeared in Utility Week on 26 November 2020. You can read the article here Continue Reading
Book Chapter “The Evolution of Competitive Retail Electricity Markets” by S. Littlechild
Stephen Littlechild’s latest work “The Evolution of Competitive Retail Electricity Markets” is a preliminary version of what will appear as Chapter 4 in the forthcoming Handbook on the Economics of Electricity Markets, to be published by Edward Elgar Publishing | PDF Continue Reading
EPRG Working Paper 2027
Stephen Littlechild An Overall Customer Satisfaction score for GB energy suppliers Abstract | Non-Technical Summary | Text A revised paper dated 12 March 2021 based on this Working Paper can be viewed here Continue Reading
EPRG Working Paper 2025
Stephen Littlechild Online reviews and customer satisfaction: The use of Trustpilot by UK retail energy suppliers and three other sectors Abstract | Non-Technical Summary | Text In March 2021 this Working Paper was subsequently split into two papers and the revised versions can be viewed below: Paper 1 Paper 2 Continue Reading
S. Littlechild latest contribution to Electricity Brain Trust Forum
Stephen Littlechild submitted his comments “Who is going to do all this?” to Electricity Brain Trust Forum on 15 September 2020 | Text Continue Reading
Article “Ofgem’s customer complaints – Is anyone listening?” by S. Littlechild
Stephen Littlechild published an article “Ofgem’s customer complaints – Is anyone listening?” in Utility Week on 31 July 2020. In this article Stephen Littlechild asks whether it is worthwhile requiring energy retailers to publish quarterly complaints statistics when there are questions over both its consistency and actual value. To read the article on Utilty Week… Continue Reading
S. Littlechild latest submission to CMA
Stephen Littlechild’s latest submission to Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is on Ofwat price determinations. The argument in this paper applies also to Ofgem’s process for setting network price controls | Text Continue Reading
EPRG Working Paper 2015
Stephen Littlechild The CMA’s assessment of customer detriment in the UK retail energy market Abstract | Non-Technical Summary | Text Continue Reading
S. Littlechild, “Economics All-Stars v. Rest of the World”, Inaugural Lecture, October 1973
An Inaugural Lecture “Economics All-Stars v. Rest of the World” delivered by Stephen Littlechild in the University of Aston in Birmingham on 25 October 1973 | PDF Continue Reading
S. Littlechild, “Change Rules, O.K.?” Inaugural Lecture, May 1977
An Inaugural Lecture “Change Rules, O.K.?” delivered by Stephen Littlechild in the University of Birmingham on 28 May 1977 | PDF Continue Reading
S. Littlechild, “Controlling the Nationalised Industries: Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?”, August 1979
“Controlling the Nationalised Industries: Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?” by Stephen Littlechild, Series B Discussion Paper #56, August 1979 | PDF Continue Reading
S. Littlechild, “Denationalisation: The Absence of Economic Analysis”, September 1981
“Denationalisation: The Absence of Economic Analysis” by S. Littlechild, published on 4 September 1981 | PDF Continue Reading
S. Littlechild, “Regulation of British Telecommunications’ Profitability”, February 1983
S. Littlechild’s report “Regulation of British Telecommunications’ Profitability” published in February 1983 | PDF Continue Reading
S. Littlechild, “Privatization: Principles, Problems and Priorities”, Lloyds Bank Review, July 1983
Article “Privatization: Principles, Problems and Priorities” by Michael Beesley and Stephen Littlechild, published in Lloyds Bank Review, #149, July 1983, pages 1-20 | PDF Continue Reading
S. Littlechild, “Privatisation and Monopoly Power”, November 1983
M. Beesley and S. Littlechild, report “Privatisation and Monopoly Power“, November 1983 | PDF Continue Reading
S. Littlechild, “Letter to the Editor”, Lloyds Bank Review, January 1984
Stephen Littlechild and Michael Beesley wrote a response to the letter from John Williamson re: the privatization of the state sector. It was published under Letter to the Editor in Lloyds Bank Review, #151, January 1984 | PDF Continue Reading
S. Littlechild, “Restructuring and Privatisation of the UK Electricity Supply Industry”, January 1984
Stephen Littlechild paper “Restructuring and Privatisation of the UK Electricity Supply Industry“, January 1984 | PDF Continue Reading
S. Littlechild, “Restructuring and Privatisation of the UK Electricity Supply Industry: the likely effects on efficiency”, May 1984
S. Littlechild, “Restructuring and Privatisation of the UK Electricity Supply Industry: the likely effects on efficiency“, 17 May 1984 | PDF Continue Reading
S. Littlechild, “Economic Regulation of Privatised Water Authorities”, 25 January 1986
Report “Economic Regulation of Privatised Water Authorities” by Stephen Littlechild was submitted and published by UK Department of Environment on 25 January 1986 | PDF Continue Reading
S. Littlechild, “Economic Regulation of Privatised Water Authorities and Some Further Reflections”, Summer 1988
Journal Article “Economic Regulation of Privatised Water Authorities and Some Further Reflections” by Stephen Littlechild was published in Oxford Review of Economic Policy, volume 4, #2, 1988 | PDF Continue Reading
S. Littlechild latest submission to NIC
Stephen Littlechild submitted a response “Price discrimination, efficiency, fairness and loyalty premia in the retail energy sector: Brief thoughts in response to the NIC Regulation Study” to the National Infrastructure Commission Review of Regulation on 25 September 2019 | Text Continue Reading
Presentation “Life before Economic Regulation” by S. Littlechild
Stephen Littlechild gave a presentation “Life before Economic Regulation” at Economic Objectives of Regulation Conference honouring the research of Professor Catherine Waddams at University of East Anglia, Norwich, on 16 September 2019 | PDF Continue Reading
Report “Replacing the tariff caps and protecting vulnerable customers by harnessing the competitive process” by S. Littlechild
In this recent report Stephen Littlechild suggests that a replacement for the tariff caps should be a competitive process to determine whether a price to particular vulnerable customers is excessive, and if so to facilitate a voluntary price adjustment or negotiated transfer of customers to another supplier | PDF Continue Reading
S. Littlechild latest submission to Ofgem
Stephen Littlechild and other former GB energy regulators submitted a response to Ofgem’s Discussion Paper on the proposed framework for assessing effective competition in the domestic retail gas and electricity market on 9 July 2019 | PDF Continue Reading
S. Littlechild latest submission to CMA
Stephen Littlechild has responded to the CMA’s invitation to comment on its Provisional Decision in its Review of the Prepayment Charges Restriction Order 2016. His response “Why so hasty?” argues against the CMA’s recommendation that Ofgem should extend the duration of the price cap, and suggests instead that Ofgem should be encouraged to review the… Continue Reading
Journal Article: Journal of Regulatory Economics, 2019
Stephen Littlechild Promoting competition and protecting customers? Regulation of the GB retail energy market 2008–2016 Journal of Regulatory Economics, March 2019 Continue Reading
Report “Ofgem’s collective switching trial and possible application in New Zealand” by S. Littlechild
In his recent report Stephen Littlechild finds that there are some potentially important legal, organisational and economic issues that need further consideration if collective switching is to be successfully implemented both in GB and in New Zealand | PDF Continue Reading
Report “Savings available in the retail energy market and the Overall Customer Service score” by S. Littlechild
In his recent report Stephen Littlechild finds that some of the savings apparently available in the retail energy market are questionable, and suggests the calculation of an Overall Customer Service score to inform customers who are considering changing supplier | PDF Continue Reading
Presentation “The Energy Price Cap: Towards a ‘Fairer Market’ for UK Consumers? the Economist’s view” by S. Littlechild
Stephen Littlechild gave a presentation “The Energy Price Cap: Towards a ‘Fairer Market’ for UK Consumers? the Economist’s view” at a UCL Laws event at University College, London on 23 January 2019 | PDF Continue Reading
S. Littlechild latest submission to CMA
Stephen Littlechild has responded to the CMA’s invitation to comment on its proposed review of the Prepayment Charges Restriction Order 2016. In his response “Providing for a transition back to a competitive retail energy market” he suggests that the CMA phase out the prepayment meter tariff cap by December 2020 rather than leave a “cliff… Continue Reading
Report “Is there competition below the PPM tariff cap? What are the implications for policy?” by S. Littlechild
Stephen Littlechild wrote a report “Is there competition below the PPM tariff cap? What are the implications for policy?” This paper finds that the range of tariff offers that are widely available and significantly below the Prepayment Meter tariff cap is much less than first appears. It suggests various implications for policy relating to accuracy of information, setting… Continue Reading
S. Littlechild latest submission to CMA
Stephen Littlechild has made a further submission to the CMA investigation of the SSE-Npower merger, suggesting that divestment to smaller suppliers of some 740,000 long-standing Npower domestic energy customers on Standard Variable Tariffs would address the CMA’s recently identified theory of harm associated with a loss of rivalry in the setting of default tariff prices | PDF… Continue Reading