Energy Retail Market Reform – Senior Policy Advisor

DESNZ

The responsibilities for the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero for 2023 are as follows: 

• Delivering security of energy supply 
• Ensuring properly functioning energy markets 
• Encouraging greater energy efficiency 
• Seizing the opportunities of net zero to lead the world in new green industries 

For 2023, our priorities are: 

• Ensure security of energy supply this winter, next winter and in the longer-term – bringing down energy bills and reducing inflation. 
• Ensure the UK is on track to meet its legally binding Net Zero commitments and support economic growth by significantly speeding up delivery of network infrastructure and domestic energy production. 
• Improve the energy efficiency of UK homes, businesses and public sector buildings to meet the 15% demand reduction ambition. 
• Deliver current schemes to support energy consumers with their bills and develop options for long-term reform to improve how the electricity market works for families and businesses. 
• Seize the economic benefits of Net Zero, including the jobs and growth created through investment in new green industries. 
• Pass the Energy Bill to support the emerging CCUS and hydrogen sectors; to update the governance of the energy system; and to reduce the time taken to consent offshore wind. 

Our Inclusive Environment

We are building an inclusive culture to make the Department a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves.

We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.

We offer first-class flexible working benefits, excellent employee well-being support and a great pension. We are fortunate to have a range of excellent staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.

We actively welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion. We will fully support candidates with a disability or long-term condition who require adjustments in our recruitment process.

Find Out More

We regularly run events where you can find out more about the department and tips for the application process. You can sign up for upcoming events here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/departmentforenergysecurityandnetzero?

You can also follow our LinkedIn Careers Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/desnz-careers/

You will be working within the Energy Markets and Analysis directorate. EMA’s purpose is to ensure Great Britain’s energy markets and networks deliver secure, low carbon and affordable energy, whilst protecting the interests of consumers and helping them make their contribution to net zero.

Our team is the Markets and Consumers team.  We are responsible for the design and function of the retail energy market, which is the interface between consumers and the energy system. We work to ensure the market functions in the interests of all consumers and that they remain protected, via a proportionate and robust regulatory framework and we act as the sponsors for Ofgem, the energy regulator. We also work to ensure that the market is fit for the future, and is able to support the achievement of the Government’s Net Zero ambitions.

The work of the team is extremely high profile at the moment, as energy bills, energy consumer issues, and net zero are all high profile issues. They will continue to be important as the market transitions as part of the delivery of Net Zero. The team has recently published a document, Delivering A Better Energy Retail Market, that sets out a vision for the future of the market, identifying the areas where targeted reforms are needed to deliver a market that works for consumers, is resilient and investible, and delivers net zero.

In this role, you will have a key role in shaping the future of the energy retail market, and making it fit for the future. This could include reforming the mechanisms by which energy consumers are protected from unfair pricing, adapting the regulatory framework to allow more innovation to support consumers and net zero, and ensuring that the development of the energy retail market supports, and is supported by, wider energy system reforms, particularly the Review of Electricity Market Arrangement (REMA) programme.

Key Responsibilities

We are advertising for a number of roles in the team, each with a focus on a different aspect of retail market reform. These include, but may not be limited to:

– Developing policy on the energy price cap and the future of default tariffs (the tariffs energy consumers pay if they have not opted into another deal). These have been key mechanisms for protecting energy consumers in recent years. However, the current regime was designed for yesterday’s market, and may need reform in order for it to continue protecting consumers, whilst lowering the cost of decarbonising the electricity system.

–  Designing options for targeted reforms to the regulatory framework that governs the retail market. The current model of energy supplier regulation is considered by some as being too burdensome, and could be hampering the development of new business models and products that could benefit consumers and help decarbonise the energy system. As part of retail market reform we are considering whether targeted changes to the current regulatory framework can unlock new, beneficial innovations.

– Leading policy on energy consumer protections. As the energy retail market evolves, consumer protection may need to adapt to work for new innovative products in the market. This will involve close working with the regulator, Ofgem,  as well as developing Governments position on the steps needed to make the energy retail market work better for consumers.

Prior knowledge of energy policy is desirable but not required – we will quickly upskill you in the areas where you have less experience.

Skills and experience

The ideal candidate will:

– Be able to demonstrate the ability to make, and deliver, policy from early stage through to implementation.

– Have an eye for detail, with the ability to solve difficult problems and work through with complex issues.

– Be comfortable working at pace, both collaboratively and autonomously, to lead the delivery of projects or workstreams.

– Have excellent interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, and be able to deliver high quality writing.

We pride ourselves on having a friendly and supportive work environment. We support team members to develop their careers, and we encourage those who work part-time, job-share or have other flexible working arrangements to apply. We will provide people with disabilities reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application process and working environment.

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

Job contact :

• Name : Joe Nicholl
• Email : Joe.Nicholl@energysecurity.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : desnzresourcing.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk