Cadent appoints utility industry stalwart as Chair of newly launched Customer Challenge Group

• With over 30 years’ sector experience, Angela Love joins as independent lead of new Customer Group.
• As the UK prepares for the energy transition, the group will champion and challenge customer innovation, service and future strategy.  

Cadent, the UK’s largest gas distribution network with over 11 million customers, has today announced the appointment of Angela Love as the independent Chair of its new Customer Challenge Group. Angela, former Director of Gas Communications and European Affairs at the Energy Networks Association, brings significant utility sector experience and will lead the new group in driving Cadent’s customer agenda.

Formed of external business leaders, the new group aims to challenge and work with Cadent on its strategy and approach to innovation and customer service, ensuring that customers remain at the core of Cadent’s business. As part of the group’s remit, it will play a pivotal role in the development of Cadent’s next regulatory business plan, which will be submitted to the industry regulator, Ofgem, in 2024. With over 30 years’ experience of the GB/EU gas and electricity markets, Angela brings extensive expertise from across the energy system.

Angela started her career at ScottishPower in commercial and financial roles, latterly as UK Strategy and External Affairs Manager for the energy supplier’s non-price regulated businesses. She was also a utilities consultant for 13 years, advising clients on market arrangements, as well as developing robust business strategies. Additional previous roles include Chair of the Gas Forum and Director of Future Markets and Engagement at Elexon, the electricity balancing and settlement body.

Commenting on her appointment, Angela Love, said: “As the UK prepares for the energy transition, I’m delighted to be joining Cadent’s new Customer Challenge Group. With a strong industry track record in delivering customer service, I’m looking forward to getting an in-depth understanding of the operation and how the group and I can help to drive even more customer innovation. One of the things that most attracted me to the new role was Cadent’s dedication to supporting customers living in vulnerable situations and I found several synergies between its work in this area and my own passion and experience, which includes being a Trustee of the Gas Safe Charity and a former member of Ofgem’s Stakeholder Engagement and Customer Vulnerability Panel.”

Tony Ballance, Chief Strategy and Regulation Officer, added: “Angela brings a deep understanding of the energy industry across both gas and electricity and her expertise in using collaboration to drive change, while supporting those most in need, will be invaluable. We’re extremely proud of our culture and genuinely operate with customers at the heart – from service levels through to ensuring those in vulnerable situations are given support when they need it the most. However, a good business doesn’t rest on its laurels and it’s important that we continually test and challenge ourselves to do even better, particularly now during what is a period of exciting and unprecedented change, as the UK drives towards net zero.”

Angela Love is also Chair of the GB Smart Energy Code Panel and Board, Independent Chair of the SP Energy Networks Independent Net Zero Advisory Council, a Non-Executive Director of SONI (the Northern Ireland System Operator) and an independent consultant.