Ofgem chief executive Tim Jarvis appointed permanently

Ofgem has confirmed Tim Jarvis as its permanent chief executive, ending an interim spell that began in March. The appointment was announced by the regulator’s board, which said it followed a rigorous and competitive recruitment process. It matters to households because Ofgem sets the energy price cap and oversees the suppliers that charge them.

Mr Jarvis previously served as Director General for Markets at Ofgem. According to the Evening Standard, he succeeds Jonathan Brearley, who stepped down after a six-year tenure that took in the Covid-19 pandemic and the energy crisis sparked by Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Ofgem new permanent CEO: what the board and Mr Jarvis said

Mark McAllister, Ofgem’s chair, said the board was confident that Mr Jarvis was “the right person to lead Ofgem through its next chapter”. He added: “His appointment provides continuity, but it is also about the future.” Mr McAllister also said that “this winter and the months ahead will be important for millions of consumers”, and that Ofgem has a role in protecting customers, particularly those who are struggling.

Mr Jarvis said it was a privilege to be appointed. “My focus will remain on delivering for consumers today while helping build the energy system of tomorrow,” he said. He said many households remain concerned about energy costs and what they may face this winter, and that “Ofgem must evolve too”.

Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh welcomed the appointment and said she looked forward to creating “a fair and affordable energy market with consumers at its heart”. Ofgem’s release said Mr Jarvis will continue to lead work to support consumers while the crisis in the Middle East creates renewed uncertainty in global energy markets.

Energy regulator leadership change and your bills

The appointment comes as the price cap has risen. According to the Evening Standard, the cap increased by 4% at the beginning of the month, taking the annual bill for the average household in England, Scotland and Wales paying by direct debit to £1,723. That is £5 a month, or £60 a year if the level were sustained for 12 months. The newspaper said prices are being pushed higher by the escalating conflict in the Middle East and disruption to oil and gas supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.

The figures below show what that means in practice. The earlier figures are our own calculation, working back from the £60 a year increase reported by the Standard, and are rounded to the nearest penny.

The cap limits the price per unit of gas and electricity, not the total bill, as the Standard noted. A household that uses more energy than average will pay more than £1,723, and one that uses less will pay less.

What happens next

Neither Ofgem’s announcement nor the coverage points to a change in how the price cap is set or how suppliers are held to account. The board’s emphasis was on continuity, and Mr Jarvis spoke of acting “with pace when action is needed” and working with government, suppliers and consumer organisations. Any shift in approach would have to be announced separately, and we will report it if it is.

For now, Mr Jarvis takes charge at a point when the cap has just risen and the winter heating season is starting. Ofgem said he will also oversee the investment and reform it says are needed for a more secure, affordable and sustainable energy system.

Households worried about paying bills can ask their supplier what support is available, and check their own tariff’s unit rates against the cap to see how a higher or lower than average use affects what they pay. This is general guidance, not personal financial advice.