Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the qualifications held by Energy Ombudsman caseworkers.

Ofgem are responsible for assessing every two years whether the Energy Ombudsman continues to meet the criteria set out in the Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes Regulations 2015. This includes assessing whether the Energy Ombudsman staff have the appropriate expertise, including an understanding of the law and the necessary expertise in the resolution of energy disputes.

The last Ofgem review of the Energy Ombudsman was published in July 2024 and found that the Energy Ombudsman met the relevant criteria, available here: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/biennial-assessment-ombudsman-services-under-alternative-dispute-resolution-adr-regulations-2021-2023