Rebel Energy goes bust – here's what you need to know

MSE_Clare

If you're one of its 80,000 household customers, your supply won't be affected and any credit balance you had with the firm will be protected – but you should take a meter reading now. Here's what you need to know.

Rebel Energy goes bust – here's what you need to know

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coupleuk

What happens if you are an actual customer but they haven't previously billed you? 

Will the SOLR bill on the price cap or will it be the actual Contract rates?

Thanks

GingerTim

When a supplier goes bust there isn't a contract price any more.

MWT

GingerTim said:

When a supplier goes bust there isn't a contract price any more.

A failed supplier in administration has not 'gone bust', the contracts and related obligations to pay are still in effect, the big thing that has changed is that they no longer have a supply licence and so the customers have to be moved to the SoLR.

mmmmikey

coupleuk said:

What happens if you are an actual customer but they haven't previously billed you? 

Will the SOLR bill on the price cap or will it be the actual Contract rates?

Thanks

Can't really answer your question, but there must be a process for all customers for billing for the period from their last bill to the date the SOLR transfer takes place, and onwards from there. I can't see why this same process wouldn't apply whether they're billing you for a few days (or in the case where you were never billed) for the entire duration of the contract.

So perhaps another question someone who's account has been transferred via the SOLR process could answer is what did their first bill with the new supplier look like? i.e. were they billed at different rates for the pre- and post-SOLR periods or did just one rate apply?

jbuchanangb

In my experience transferring from Symbio to E.ON Next the final Symbio bill had my closing meter reading, the first E.ON bill had the same reading as an opening reading. My final Symbio bill showed a credit balance due to me and my first E.ON bill had that credit balance applied. This was all entirely satisfactory. I hope it goes smoothly for anyone affected by this latest closure.

MWT

mmmmikey said:

So perhaps another question someone who's account has been transferred via the SOLR process could answer is what did their first bill with the new supplier look like? i.e. were they billed at different rates for the pre- and post-SOLR periods or did just one rate apply?

There have been enough these in recent years to make the process clear, the failed supplier can elect to handle their own debt collection or they can ask the SoLR to handle that for them, we've seen examples of both.

It doesn't change the rate at which customers will be billed though, up to the date the SoLR takes over they will be billed at the tariff rate they were on with the failed supplier, after that date they will be billed using the tariff agreed with Ofgem by the SoLR, often but not always, their standard variable tariff.

If the failed supplier is handling their own debt collection then they will be the ones billing the customer, and so the first bill from the SoLR will only cover use from the date they took ownership of the customers.

The decision as ever is to stay with the SoLR and perhaps move to a different tariff, or switch to a different supplier.

If the customer wants to switch I would strongly suggest they wait until the move to the SoLR has been completed as otherwise it can result in them getting dragged back to the SoLR even if they complete a switch elsewhere. 

NoRebel25

GingerTim said:

When a supplier goes bust there isn't a contract price any more.

Hi im on a fixed contract with rebel (through the other company) Can't I stay on the same fixed tarrif  as its until October? They made a 1 year contract to supply at that rate! 

 Nb I chose low standing charge with higher rate as don't use much and no gas from now until Oct!).. So have paid higher rate during winter to even out in summer - feel cheated) 

Gerry1

NoRebel25 said:

GingerTim said:

When a supplier goes bust there isn't a contract price any more.

Hi im on a fixed contract with rebel (through the other company) Can't I stay on the same fixed tarrif  as its until October? They made a 1 year contract to supply at that rate! 

 Nb I chose low standing charge with higher rate as don't use much and no gas from now until Oct!).. So have paid higher rate during winter to even out in summer - feel cheated) 

Welcome to the forum.

Unfortunately your tariff was offered only by Rebel Energy and both are now history.  However, any credit balance will be honoured by BG and they'll notify you of your new prices in the next few days.

If you haven't already done so, as a matter of urgency take a meter reading and download all your Rebel Energy billing info while you still can.

BG aren't known for fantastic customer service so when your account is up and running you may wish to move to a better tariff and/or supplier.  You won't be charged an exit fee.

https://www.britishgas.co.uk/energy/supplier-of-last-resort

EssexHebridean

BG do actually have a history of being willing to honour contractual rates until the end of the deal - however, that is going back some way to pre-energy crisis. When they took over our gas supply as SOLR from Ebico they definitely met the terms of the remainder of the contract - however, what they will do in the current climate is another question. 

NoRebel25

I hope so guess will have to speak to them? Ie BG. Anyone know their customer service no?