Yorkshire Energy Goes Bust: Advice for Customers
Yorkshire Energy has become the latest challenger provider to cease trading this year.
Yorkshire Energy has ceased operations, becoming the latest small energy supplier casualty of 2020. UK energy regulator Ofgem has appointed Scottish Power as the provider to take on its 74,000 domestic customers.
Several suppliers have gone bust over the last year, with shrinking profits linked to renewables fees, the Ofgem price cap and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Other energy firm failures this year have included Tonik, Robin Hood Energy, Breeze, Economy Energy and Go Effortless Energy.
What should Yorkshire Energy customers do now?
If you’re a Yorkshire Energy customer, your gas and electricity supply will continue as normal and your credit balances will be protected.
If you owed Yorkshire Energy money, Scottish Power will review details and contact you with relevant instructions. This review process may take several weeks as Scottish Power reviews Yorkshire Energy customer records. When calculating your credit balance, Scottish Power will deduct any unbilled charges for your supply by Yorkshire Energy.
Ofgem has advised customers to sit tight and not switch suppliers until Scottish power contacts you. Once you have been contacted by the new supplier, you are free to shop around for a better deal and will not be charged with any exit fees for switching away.
Will I get the same tariff with my new supplier?
As Scottish Power has now taken on your energy supply, you have been moved on to what is known as a ‘deemed’ tariff. Deemed rates are often higher than a provider’s regular rates, so you could end up paying more for your energy than before.
I’ve already switched supplier - will this still go through?
If you’re already in the process of switching away from Yorkshire Energy, this move will continue to go through as normal and any previous Direct Debit to the supplier should be cancelled automatically. You should still check with your bank though, just to be sure.
I’ve just switched to Yorkshire Energy - what happens now?
If you’ve started switching away from another supplier to Yorkshire Energy, the switch will continue to go through as planned, though you will be moved over to Scottish Power instead.
What has Yorkshire Energy said about the closure?
Customers visiting the supplier’s website today were met with the following statement from Annie Faulder, Yorkshire Energy CEO: “After 2 and a half years in operation, we sadly have begun proceedings to cease trading.
“We have operated since day 1 with the simple values of transparency and honesty, paying our renewable obligations on time and having customer service that we are proud of.
“Ofgem, the energy regulator, has appointed Scottish Power as the new energy supplier for our customers, who will contact everyone over the coming days and again in a few weeks when the transfer has been completed and their accounts have been fully set up.
“We would like to offer our heartfelt thanks to our customers and colleagues for their loyal support over the years.”
A statement from Ofgem said: “Customers need not worry, their supplies are secure. Former and current domestic customers’ credit balances are protected. Scottish Power may need to contact customers to determine the amount of any outstanding balance.
“Current and former customers who are in debt to Yorkshire Energy should wait to hear from Scottish Power or Yorkshire Energy’s administrators who will talk to them about repayment arrangements.
“Ofgem’s advice to Yorkshire Energy’s customers is not to switch, but to sit tight and wait until Scottish Power has been in touch. This will help make sure that the process of handing customers over to Scottish Power and honouring any credit balances, is as hassle-free for customers as possible."