Breeze Energy, an energy and gas supplier servicing 18,000 domestic clients, has recently ceased to trade.
Ofgem, UK’s energy regulating body, has chosen ‘Big Six supplier’ British Gas to take on Breeze Energy’s customers following a competitive selection process. The agency sought to bring the best deal for the customers of Breeze Energy.
Getting the Boot
Breeze Energy is the ninth supplier that has ceased to trade in 2019. It is also the fifteenth supplier to have gone bust in just over two years, affecting more than a million customers.
Last month, Ofgem ordered the company to pay over £486,200 in Renewable Obligation taxes plus interest. The firm has failed to prove that its supply has been sourced from enough renewable resources.
The company has gained positive feedback in recent months, achieving a 4.8 out of 5 overall scores in the Citizens Advice customer rankings. However, failure to abide by Ofgem’s requirements has likely resulted in their stopping trading.
Philippa Rockford, Ofgem Director for Future Retail Markets, advised the customers of Breeze Energy to sit tight and let the agency’s safety net run in their favor. Their outstanding credit balances and money owed by the non-operational company are to be honoured by the new supplier to make the transition a smooth one.
The customers were also instructed to prepare their meter reading to use as a reference for when the new supplier reaches out to them.
Despite Breeze’s cessation of trading, customers were able to rely on their energy supply as usual. Many customers were worried that their supply might be affected, which could have been unfortunate seeing as it happened during the holiday season.
Choosing British Gas
A few days after Breeze Energy ceased trading, Ofgem announced that it had assigned British Gas to supply the former 18,000 domestic clients of the now-defunct firm. The selection process was overseen by the agency and determined the energy supplier giant to be the most favourable choice for the customers.
British Gas offered the most competitive tariff for Breeze Energy clients. The company will also shoulder the significant amount of costs that the firm has amassed during its run.
Pickford has announced British Gas’s appointment and said that the company would reach out to the customers to iron out the transfer. Once things have announced, customers will be free to choose a better deal for themselves or stay with the ‘Big Six’ supplier.
Customers are welcome to relay their queries via the company’s chat option on their website. FAQs have also been posted on their page at www.britishgas.co.uk.
More Details
Customers have been moved to a new tariff that British Gas call the “Cap Tracker Plus Sep 2021” tariff, which has no exit fee. Customers will only be able to switch to a different tariff or provider once their account has been fully set up by the company.
The company will supply energy from 100% renewable sources, which matches what the former firm provided to clients. Customers will be fed the same amount of clean energy to the National Grid. It is also committed to reducing the customer’s carbon footprint through its emission reduction projects.
Ofgem has strongly advised customers to wait for the transfer to be completed before switching to a different supplier. When their account has been fully set up by British Gas, the customer can go ahead and make the switch without paying exit fees.
For existing credit balances made to Breeze Energy, the customer can expect British Energy to honour their credit and inform the customer as soon as it has been shifted to the new account. The company respects Ofgem’s safety net and enforces it for accounts that have been switched from the now-defunct firm.
For debts or outstanding payments, the company is still working out a process that will resolve the issue.
