Major energy brand closes business for good as 1.3million customers forced to change supplier
A MAJOR energy brand is now redundant after 1.3million customers switched to its new parent brand.
All Shell Energy customers have migrated to Octopus Energy after it purchased the supplier late last year.
It means that gas and electricity tariffs are no longer available under the Shell Energy brand.
The first Shell Energy customer was transferred over to Octopus’ systems just before Christmas to test the process, with the actual migration starting on January 30.
The rapid move was made possible by Octopus Energy’s technology platform, Kraken, which it says, is the most adept software system in the industry at large-scale customer migrations.
Greg Jackson, founder of Octopus Energy, said: “We are thrilled to have completed the transfer of all Shell Energy customers to Octopus Energy, achieving this milestone in record time.
“Thanks to the effectiveness of Kraken and Octopus’ promise of brilliant customer service, we have seamlessly transitioned customers to our platform while ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience.”
Octopus Energy also told The Sun that it has also offered over 6,000 of Shell’s most vulnerable customers free, energy-efficient electric blankets to help them stay cosy and reduce their bills.
The acquisition of Shell Energy’s customer base has now catapulted Octopus Energy to become the UK’s second-largest energy supplier with 6.8 million customers.
Shell agreed to sell its domestic energy and broadband arm to the Octopus Energy last September.
At the time, Shell Energy provided domestic gas, power, and broadband services to approximately two million customers.
The suppliers completed the sale in the fourth quarter of 2023.
However, industry experts expected Octopus Energy to divest their telecoms base to another telecom provider at the time of Shell Energy’s sale.
And on February 7, Octopus Energy sold Shell Energy’s broadband arm to TalkTalk.
Around 480,000 Shell broadband customers will switch to TalkTalk in the coming months.
But for now, customers can still purchase Shell Energy broadband packages online.
The last major supplier to place its domestic arm up for sale was SSE back in 2019.
SSE Energy Services, which provided gas and electricity to 3.5million households, was acquired by Ovo Energy in January 2020.
What energy bill help is available?
THERE'S a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you're struggling to get by.
If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.
This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.
If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don’t think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.
Several energy firms have grant schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.
But eligibility criteria varies depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £1,500.
British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.
You don’t need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.
EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.
Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).
The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill, and some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you’re struggling.
Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.
Octopus Energy said in October 2022 that it would take on all 1.5million Bulb customers after the troubled energy supplier fell into administration back in November 2021.
At its peak, Bulb was the country’s seventh largest energy firm and provided gas and electricity tariffs to 1.7million households.
But it was the biggest provider to go under after several other smaller firms failed to stay afloat.
Unlike, the smaller suppliers which went bust with hundreds of thousands of customers, Bulb had over one million.
This meant that Ofgem couldn’t simply get another supplier to take on all its customers, as it has done with the 28 other firms that collapsed in 2021.
Instead, Bulb was placed into special administration – which meant that it was allowed to operate as normal and customers don’t need to do anything.
In this format, the company was kept afloat thanks to the input of £4billion worth of taxpayer cash.
But in October 2022, Octopus announced a deal with the government to buy Bulb and take on its 1.5 million customers, backed by the Government.