Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Energy crisis: What do you do if your energy supplier goes bust - and which companies have already folded?

Energy crisis: What do you do if your energy supplier goes bust - and which companies have already folded?

Wholesale prices for gas have surged 250% since January, with a number of smaller firms entering insolvency - here is what to do if your energy firms goes bust.

More than a million people have now been affected by energy suppliers going bust after the price of buying gas on wholesale markets surged.

The rising costs are putting pressure on the suppliers - particularly smaller companies who are unable to pass on the increases to their customers - and households who face increased bills this winter.

Six firms already folded in September - PfP Energy, MoneyPlus Energy, Utility Point, People's Energy, Green, Avro Energy - and there are fears that more could follow, with Bulb and Igloo reportedly on the brink of collapse.

There are now roughly 40 suppliers in the UK market, sharply down from a peak of 70 in 2018.

Some of the UK's biggest energy companies could be offered state-backed loans in return for taking on customers from smaller suppliers.

However, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has repeatedly said he does not want to prop up companies that have been badly run, adding there is "no reward for failure".

Are you a customer of a small energy supplier and worried about keeping warm through the winter? Email us at news@sky.com

Below are answers to some of the key questions coming out of the crisis:

What if your supplier goes bust?


If a supplier fails, Ofgem - the UK's independent energy regulator - will ensure customers' gas and electricity supply continues uninterrupted.

Customers will be switched to a "supplier of last resort" and any credit with the old supplier will be transferred.

If a supplier of last resort is not possible, a special administrator would be appointed by Ofgem and the government.

Your old tariff will end and the new supplier will put you on a special "deemed" contract, which will last for as long as you want it to.

The deemed contract could cost you more, as the new supplier takes on more risk (for example, possibly having to buy extra wholesale energy at short notice to supply to the new customers), but Ofgem says it will try to get the best deal for you.

Boris Johnson has pledged his government will 'do everything we can' to prevent energy companies going under as wholesale gas prices surge in the UK. File pic


You should take meter readings as you will need to pass these on to your new supplier.

Once your new supplier has been in touch, ask them to put you on their cheapest deal. Then shop around and switch if you want to. You won't be charged exit fees.

Why have gas prices risen so dramatically?


As in any market, the whole price of gas can go up and down - and costs typically do rise at this time of year, with an increased demand for heating and people switching on lights earlier in the day.

However, this year it coincides with the economy opening up from pandemic lows, so demand is even higher.

A perfect storm of other problems has also hit the sector: supply from Russia has dried up recently, demand is high in Asia and in the UK several gas platforms in the North Sea have closed to perform maintenance that was paused during the pandemic.

British Gas stepped in to operate People's Energy's supply after the company folded last week.


Will my energy bill rise?


It depends on what kind of deal you are on.

If you are on a fixed-price tariff, it means the price you pay is fixed for the length of your contract, so you won't be affected - but you will probably have to switch to a more expensive deal when your contract comes to an end.

If you are on a flexible tariff, this changes in line with wholesale prices.

The rise announced late last year, which came into effect in October, means that nobody covered by the price cap will see their bills rise by more than 12% before the next review, which is due to take place in April.

Ofgem has said consumers can expect an average price rise of £135 this winter.

Why are energy suppliers going bust?


Many smaller suppliers promised to sell gas to customers for less than it is now costing them to buy.

When people sign a fixed-term deal, the energy suppliers expect the price of gas to go up and down, which gives them some room for price changes.

But the unprecedented rise in global prices means a lot of customers are now paying less for energy than costs the supplier to buy, which is not a viable business strategy.

What is hedging and why have so many energy suppliers not done it?


The energy suppliers that stay afloat are likely to be those that have hedged - a type of insurance which steps in if prices rise too much.

But like all insurance, hedging costs money. So many suppliers - who are living on razor-thin margins anyway - decide not to and are now paying the price.

Some analysts fear the UK's energy companies could be drastically reduced over the coming months. File pic


How long could this last?


Europe's winter heating season typically begins in October and wholesale prices are not forecast to fall significantly during the remainder of this year.

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
Western Europe Records Hottest June on Record
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
France Requests Airlines to Cut Flights at Paris Airports Amid Planned Air Traffic Controller Strike
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Hungary's Prime Minister Criticizes NATO's Role in Ukraine
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Hungarian Scientist to Conduct 30 Research Experiments on the International Space Station
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
International Astronaut Team Launched to Space Station
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
Oil Prices Set to Surge After US Strikes Iran
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
×