Ofgem is the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets. We are a non-ministerial government department and an independent National Regulatory Authority, recognised by EU Directives. Our principal objective when carrying out our functions is to protect the interests of existing and future electricity and gas consumers. We do this in a variety of ways including:

promoting value for money
promoting security of supply and sustainability, for present and future generations of consumers, domestic and industrial users
the supervision and development of markets and competition
regulation and the delivery of government schemes.
We work effectively with, but are independent of, government, the energy industry and other stakeholders within a legal framework determined by the UK government and the European Union.

How are we governed?

We are governed by the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority (GEMA). This consists of non-executive and executive members and a non-executive chair. Non-executive members bring experience and expertise from a range of areas including:

industry
economics
consumer and social policy
science and the environment
finance and investment
European energy issues.
The Authority determines strategy, sets policy priorities and makes decisions on a wide range of regulatory matters, including price controls and enforcement. The Authority’s buy valtrex cheap powers are provided for under the following:

Gas Act 1986
Electricity Act 1989
Utilities Act 2000
Competition Act 1998
Enterprise Act 2002
measures set out in a number of Energy Acts.
Transparency

We try to be transparent in our work at all times. Our practices include:

providing full, timely and thorough consultation opportunities for interested parties in the way we explain our approaches and reach our decisions , including our strategies and plans
arranging meetings and workshops as we share with stakeholders the analyses underpinning our decisions
holding briefings and occasional seminars for interested parties, including Parliament and the Press
publishing the minutes of Authority meetings.
How are we funded?

We recover our costs from the licensed companies we regulate. Licensees must pay an annual licence fee, which is set to cover our costs. We are wholly independent of the companies we regulate.

We operate under a five-year cost control regime that pegs our expenditure growth at three percentage points below the retail price index. The current regime runs to 2015 and is expected to result in savings of £12.5 million.

[Featured Image Credit: ofgem.gov.uk & jwsmartmeters.co.uk]
Information taken from https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/about-us/who-we-are