Retail energy may seem like a simple business on the surface. Sell electricity, serve customers - but behind the scenes, it’s anything but. Every household bill is backed by a series of decisions: how to hedge supply, when to lock in prices, and how to manage risk across millions of customers. As volatility increases and decarbonisation accelerates, the pressure on energy retailers to get those decisions right is only growing.
In this episode of Transmission, Ed speaks with Gethin Musk, Head of Trading at OVO, one of the UK’s leading energy suppliers. Gethin gives a behind-the-scenes look at how retail portfolios are managed, why hedging is such a delicate balancing act, and how flexibility assets like batteries might reshape the future of consumer energy costs. Throughout the conversation, you'll hear about:
- The fundamentals of retail hedging: What does it actually take to hedge a retail book and why is it more complicated than it looks?
- Managing customer risk: How retailers like OVO protect their customers from price shocks, and what happens when volatility spikes.
- The role of batteries in supply portfolios: Are flexible assets like storage a viable tool for smoothing retail exposure?
- Innovation vs. margin pressure: How retailers are navigating the tension between net zero ambitions and competitive pricing.
- Working in trading: Gethin shares what skills matter most, how his team is structured, and advice for those looking to enter energy trading from non-traditional backgrounds.
About our Guest
Gethin Musk is Head of Trading at OVO, where he oversees the company’s wholesale energy procurement and risk management strategies. With a background spanning utilities, trading, and market operations, he plays a key role in ensuring OVO’s retail portfolio stays resilient, cost-effective, and aligned with the broader energy transition. For more information, head to the OVO website.
About Modo Energy
Modo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage solutions understand the market - and make the most out of their assets.
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