Yesterday it was announced that two energy suppliers, People’s Energy and Utility Point are ceasing to trade. People’s Energy supplies gas and electricity to around 250,000 domestic customers as well as around 1,000 non-domestic customers. Utility Point supplies gas and electricity to around 220,000 domestic customers.

Don’t panic!

Under Ofgem’s ‘safety net’, the energy supply of the previous supplier’s customers will continue and outstanding credit balances of domestic customers will be protected.

Customers of People’s Energy and Utility Point will be transferred to a new supplier, which will be selected by Ofgem. which will be selected by Ofgem. The process of choosing a new supplier usually takes a couple of days.

As of 14th September 2021, Ofgem’s current advice to People’s Energy and Utility Point’s customers is to:

• Sit tight and not switch to another energy supplier until you have been contacted by the replacement supplier.
• Take a meter reading ready for when your new supplier contacts you.

This will make the process of transferring customers over to the new suppliers, and paying back any outstanding credit balances, as smooth as possible.

Get ready to switch

Once your transfer to the new supplier has taken place, you should make sure that the tariff you are placed on with them is competitive. If you want to make sure you’re buying green energy (and we hope you do!) then you should also check the electricity covered by the tariff is 100% renewable.

Too much to take in?

We created Big Clean Switch to take the complexity out of choosing a green supplier. We only work with suppliers we are confident offer a genuinely green tariff, so you can switch with confidence without having to get bogged down in the background reading. So if you want low cost green energy without the hassle, hop over to our switch page and run a quote.

How does Ofgem’s ‘safety net’ work?

Ofgem asks suppliers to bid to become the new supplier in an effort to try and get the best possible deal for customers. After the new supplier has been chosen, customers are moved onto a new contract with the new company. It usually only takes Ofgem a few days to appoint a new supplier, although the transfer of customers can take a number of weeks.

During this time, our advice is to sit tight, don’t switch and wait until your new supplier contacts you. This will make sure the process is as hassle free as possible for you, including securing the return of any outstanding credit balance you may have.

Once you have been contacted by your new supplier, you should ask them to put you on their cheapest deal or shop around if you are not happy with them. You won’t be charged exit fees. Find out more in ‘Switching supplier’ below.

Will my bills go up once I’m with my new supplier?

Possibly.

Your new supplier will put you onto a special ‘deemed’ contract (this means a contract you haven’t chosen). ‘Deemed’ contracts can be more expensive. The supplier takes on more risk, for example, having to buy additional wholesale energy at short notice for new customers. So, they also charge more to make up for this extra risk.

Until you’re contacted by the new supplier, sit tight to protect any credit balance you may have, but once you know the transfer has taken place, explore your switching options as soon as possible.

Where to find more info if you’re a People’s Energy and Utility Point customer

For more on Ofgem’s safety net, see: www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/household-gas-and-electricity-guide/extra-help-energy-services/ofgem-safety-net-if-your-energy-supplier-goes-out-business

For the latest updates on this situation from Ofgem, see: www.ofgem.gov.uk/news-blog/news-press-releases