Solarplicity Supply Limited, an energy supplier with around 7,500
domestic customers and less than 500 business customers, has
ceased to trade.
Under Ofgem’s safety net, the energy supply
of Solarplicity’s customers will continue and
prepayment meters can be topped up as normal. The outstanding
credit balances of domestic customers will be protected.
Ofgem will choose a new supplier to take on all
of Solarplicity’s customers. This supplier will contact
these customers shortly after being appointed.
Ofgem’s advice to Solarplicity’s customers in the meantime is to:
- · Not switch
to another energy supplier until a new one has been appointed and
you have been contacted by them in the following weeks.
- · Take a meter
reading ready for when your new supplier contacts you.
This will make the process of transferring customers over to the
chosen supplier, and paying back any outstanding credit balances,
as smooth as possible.
Philippa Pickford, Ofgem’s director for future retail markets,
said:
“Solarplicity customers do not need to worry, as under our
safety net we’ll make sure your energy supplies are secure and
domestic customers’ credit balances are protected.
“Ofgem will now choose a new supplier for you and whilst we’re
doing this our advice is to ‘sit tight’ and don’t switch. You can
rely on your energy supply as normal. We will update you when we
have chosen a new supplier, who will then get in touch about your
new tariff.”
In late July 2019, Toto Energy acquired customers from
Solarplicity Supply Ltd. Toto Energy has been in contact with
customers that have been switched to them. Ofgem’s process only
applies to those customers that remained with Solarplicity.
Notes to editors
- · Customers
that have been contacted by Toto, will have their transfer
managed by them. For customers that have not been contacted
by Toto, Ofgem will manage their transfer once it has appointed a
new supplier in the coming days.
-
· Solarplicity’s customers
should take meter readings today and wait until their new
supplier contacts them. Once they’ve been contacted, customers
can ask to be put on their new supplier’s cheapest deal or shop
around for a better deal from another supplier. They won’t be
charged exit fees for switching away from their new supplier.
- · For
non-smart prepayment meters, customers can continue to use their
top-up devices until they are replaced by the appointed supplier.
- · For smart
prepayment meters, you will be able to top up your meter with
Solarplicity for a short while. If required, Solarplicity will
then send an electronic message to your meter to turn it into
credit mode. This will enable you to take a continual supply
without the need to top up. Once a new supplier has been
appointed, they will be in contact with you to discuss whether
you want to take your supply with them through a prepayment
tariff and they will set this up for you.
- · Ofgem's safety
net will make sure customers will always have an
energy supply, domestic customers’ credit balances are
protected and that the process in moving over to the appointed
supplier is as smooth and hassle free as possible.
- · The
Solarplicity group has a number of other companies, including
those involved in the installation of and supply of solar
photovoltaic panels, and smart metering activities. Ofgem’s
safety net applies to Solarplicity Supply Limited, the licensed
energy supplier within the group.
- · This month
Ofgem made the decision to confirm the provisional
order issued to Solarplicity to pay outstanding money owed
to Feed-in Tariff (FIT) generators. This enforcement action
has ended after the supplier ceased trading. In February
Ofgem also issued a provisional order on Solarplicity banning the
energy supplier from taking on new customers and increasing
vulnerable customers’ direct debits, due to its poor switching
process and customer service. Ofgem decided not to confirm
this provisional order last month after the supplier made some
improvements.
