Together Energy Retail Ltd left the energy market on 18 January 2022, and its 176,000 domestic customers moved to British Gas from 24 January 2022, according to Ofgem's record of supplier exits1. The same entry records one non-domestic customer1.
The transfer was made under Ofgem's safety net, which appoints a new supplier when an existing one fails. Ofgem states that customers "won't notice a thing until your new supplier gets in touch", and that the appointed supplier will contact them about their new tariff, how the account will be set up, and how any credit or debt will be settled1.
Together Energy is one of a long run of supplier exits listed by Ofgem since January 2021. The largest single transfer in that list is Avro Energy, with around 580,000 domestic customers moved to Octopus Energy from 26 September 20211. Others include Pure Planet, with around 235,000 domestic customers, and People's Energy, with around 350,000 domestic customers, both of which also moved to new suppliers in the autumn of 20211. British Gas has taken on customers from several failed suppliers, including Neon Reef, Social Energy Supply, Zebra Power, Bluegreen Energy Services, PFP Energy, MoneyPlus Energy and People's Energy1.
| Old supplier | Exit date | Domestic customers | New supplier | Supply start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Together Energy Retail Ltd | 18 January 2022 | 176,000 | British Gas | 24 January 2022 |
| Zog Energy Limited | 1 December 2021 | 11,700 | EDF | 4 December 2021 |
| Entice Energy | 25 November 2021 | 5,400 | Scottish Power | 1 December 2021 |
| Orbit Energy Limited | 25 November 2021 | 65,000 | Scottish Power | 1 December 2021 |
| Neon Reef Limited | 16 November 2021 | 30,000 | British Gas | 21 November 2021 |
Ofgem's guidance states that a customer's old tariff ends when they are moved, and the new supplier places them on a "deemed" tariff rate, meaning a tariff they have not chosen1. Ofgem's page does not set out the rates that apply to Together Energy customers under British Gas, and no figure for the cost to a household of the change has been reported1.
Why it matters for households
A supplier failure does not interrupt supply. Gas and electricity continue to flow while Ofgem appoints a replacement, and the practical change for a household is who bills it and on what terms1. Because the old tariff ends and a deemed rate applies, the price a household pays can change at the point of transfer, and the terms are set by the new supplier rather than chosen by the customer1. Credit balances and debts are handled through the new supplier, which contacts customers directly about both1. For a household tracking its own energy independence, the event is a reminder that the identity of the supplier, and the terms attached to it, can change without the household deciding anything. The wider pattern of exits since January 2021 has concentrated customers among a smaller number of larger suppliers, which is reflected in the market share position of the companies involved1.
What happens next
British Gas took on the Together Energy customer base from 24 January 20221. Ofgem's guidance says new suppliers will contact customers with information about their tariff and what happens next, and that customers who have not heard from them after a few weeks can use the contact details on the supplier's website1. No further dated steps for this transfer have been reported1.
Sources1 cited
- Check who’s taken over your energy supply | Ofgem, ofgem.gov.uk