Customers left shocked as gas and electricity firms Green Network Energy and Simplicity Energy cease trading

TWO energy suppliers, Green Network Energy and Simplicity Energy, have announced today that they are ceasing to trade.

Green Network Energy supplies gas and electricity to around 360,000 domestic customers as well as a smaller number of non-domestic customers. Simplicity Energy supplies gas and electricity to around 50,000 domestic customers.

However, gas and electricity regulatory body Ofgem has urged customers not to panic. Under Ofgem’s safety net, the energy supply of Green Network Energy’s and Simplicity Energy’s customers will continue and outstanding credit balances of domestic customers will be protected.

Customers of firms will be contacted by their new supplier, which will be chosen by Ofgem.

The organisation's advice to Green Network Energy’s and Simplicity Energy’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 ready as soon as possible reading 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, Director of Retail at Ofgem, said: “Green Network Energy and Simplicity Energy 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 are doing this our advice is to wait until we appoint a new supplier and do not switch in the meantime. 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.”

Updates are available from the Ofgem website or through our twitter feed @ofgem.

Customers who have questions should visit the FAQs on the website or, if they need additional support, call Citizens Advice on 03454 04 05 06 or email them via their webform. Advice will also be shared on Ofgem’s twitter @ofgem and Facebook channels.

Once they have 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 will not be charged exit fees for switching away from their new supplier.

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.