Utilita in trouble?

[Hibee_Dave]

Amid a number of energy companies going bust just now, I see that Utilita have stopped accepting new customers. If they go pop, do we face another season without a main shirt sponsor and (more importantly) are we then left with a big hole in the budget?

[cameronw-hfc]

I doubt it bothers us really. Ron has been very pro-active on getting sponsors in left right and centre. Should have more than enough to compensate

[seanshow]

I doubt it bothers us really. Ron has been very pro-active on getting sponsors in left right and centre. Should have more than enough to compensate

Well ours went bust last week :rolleyes: apparently the fourth in recent times, peoples energy we were with them since almost the beginning in 2018, East Lothian couple start up business guaranteeing 75 % of profit returned to customers... Still waiting for a single bean lol

[hibbyfraelibby]

Amid a number of energy companies going bust just now, I see that Utilita have stopped accepting new customers. If they go pop, do we face another season without a main shirt sponsor and (more importantly) are we then left with a big hole in the budget?

I dont think too many energy firms are accepting new customers at the moment as they are all busy being forced to accept those whose providers went bust by the government.

[CMurdoch]

Well ours went bust last week :rolleyes: apparently the fourth in recent times, peoples energy we were with them since almost the beginning in 2018, East Lothian couple start up business guaranteeing 75 % of profit returned to customers... Still waiting for a single bean lolMichael Stewart will sort it out for you

[Col2]

Most energy companies are not currently accepting new customers.

[Since452]

Amid a number of energy companies going bust just now, I see that Utilita have stopped accepting new customers. If they go pop, do we face another season without a main shirt sponsor and (more importantly) are we then left with a big hole in the budget?

No we'll just get put with British Gas

[HH81]

I'm with Scottish Power they just put the prices up. So annoying.

[Moulin Yarns]

I'm with Scottish Power they just put the prices up. So annoying.

You will probably find they have all put prices up. I'm with Bulb, 1.7m customers and none of the others are able to take on that number of customers if they go bust, could be the first nationalised energy company under the tories :greengrin

[HH81]

You will probably find they have all put prices up. I'm with Bulb, 1.7m customers and none of the others are able to take on that number of customers if they go bust, could be the first nationalised energy company under the tories :greengrin

They had just reduced it about 3 weeks ago by 30 quid a month.

Thinking do I go on a fixed tariff or ride the storm.

[Inconsequential]

You will probably find they have all put prices up. I'm with Bulb, 1.7m customers and none of the others are able to take on that number of customers if they go bust, could be the first nationalised energy company under the tories :greengrin Bulb are in a financial trouble too and are seeking new investors. I tried to switch to them a few years ago but said they couldn't supply me due to my location. I went to E.on who were quite good but then made a increase so now I'm with Octopus who have been very good so far. I have also been with Hydro-Electric, Scottish Power and Scottish Gas. Bit of a hobby of mine - collecting energy companies. :wink:

[MartinfaePorty]

You will probably find they have all put prices up. I'm with Bulb, 1.7m customers and none of the others are able to take on that number of customers if they go bust, could be the first nationalised energy company under the tories :greengrin

I liked the green energy with Bulb, plus I scored with a few £50 bonuses by referring friends and family, but after yet another price hike I decided to switch to Sainsbury's (supplied by E.ON) and got the process started on Monday. I hope Bulb can survive, but it doesn't look good.

[Moulin Yarns]

They had just reduced it about 3 weeks ago by 30 quid a month.

Thinking do I go on a fixed tariff or ride the storm.

Was the reduction just for you because your consumption during summer was reduced or was it for every customer. I think that the raise will be for every customer!

[Moulin Yarns]

Was the reduction just for you because your consumption during summer was reduced or was it for every customer. I think that the raise will be for every customer!

Just used Martin's Money Tips and I can't get it any cheaper than Bulb.

[Juniper Greens]

Just used Martin's Money Tips and I can't get it any cheaper than Bulb.

Bulb are a variable rate though, so they should be the cheapest at any given moment.
I went onto a 24 month fixed with octopus in December, from bulb. Was a fiver a month more at first, but I'm quids in now! Best part...the cold callers hang up when I say octopus as they know they can't match it now. Just praying the don't go bust now that having paid a higher fixed rate at first is now paying off

[.Sean.]

I'm with Scottish Power they just put the prices up. So annoying.
Same. Especially with how much my gas and electricity has already went up over the last year and a half with my missus now working from home. Our bill has nearly doubled

[HH81]

Same. Especially with how much my gas and electricity has already went up over the last year and a half with my missus now working from home. Our bill has nearly doubled

I worked from home and managed to keep it about the same. Had extra from tax savings so lumped that into bill too.

Will look around again when it settles down as not on fixed contract.

[WhileTheChief..]

I got some smart thermostats for my radiators last year.

They made a huge difference to my bill. I've been working from home for 18 months or whatever and it was good to be able to only heat the room I was in during the winter, not the whole flat.

I don't usually bother with these sort of things, thinking ach it's only a few quid. Well, they saved me a lot more than that. Highly recommend them.

[WhileTheChief..]

Same. Especially with how much my gas and electricity has already went up over the last year and a half with my missus now working from home. Our bill has nearly doubled

Her employer sholud be paying her £30 or so for working from home.

[HH81]

Her employer sholud be paying her £30 or so for working from home.

24 quid here in England.

[hibee]

I just tried to check my account with Avro energy after seeing this and the website says they’ve gone out of business, nice of them to tell me!

[jacomo]

I doubt it bothers us really. Ron has been very pro-active on getting sponsors in left right and centre. Should have more than enough to compensate


Of course it could affect us. Do you think it’s easy to replace your shirt sponsor mid season?

Saving grace is that the timing is probably quite helpful. I imagine utilita have paid a substantial amount of the sponsorship fee during the summer.

[jacomo]

I just tried to check my account with Avro energy after seeing this and the website says they’ve gone out of business, nice of them to tell me!


Announced today. Cut them some slack, I imagine quite a few people have just lost their jobs.

[Moulin Yarns]

Announced today. Cut them some slack, I imagine quite a few people have just lost their jobs.

Yep. Imagine emailing every customer to say, you won't be getting any energy from us ever again. 😁

[hibee]

Announced today. Cut them some slack, I imagine quite a few people have just lost their jobs.

I’m hardly harassing them by checking my account and posting it on here, I didn’t know they’d only announced it today, the website doesn’t mention any dates.

[greenginger]

Amid a number of energy companies going bust just now, I see that Utilita have stopped accepting new customers. If they go pop, do we face another season without a main shirt sponsor and (more importantly) are we then left with a big hole in the budget?

I heard a Utilita guy on the radio explaining that the company had pre-paid for gas for this winter to cover their existing customer base, but if they took on more customers they would have to buy more gas and that would be at todays higher rate which they would not be allowed to pass on to new customers.

Every new customer would be a loss to the company, hence freeze on new business.

[Helensburghhibs]

Something big is going to happen this winter. A business model selling a product thats 200 percent more expensive to buy than your allowed to sell it for doesn't work. Ask hearts or the rangers

[Wakeyhibee]

I worked from home and managed to keep it about the same. Had extra from tax savings so lumped that into bill too.

Will look around again when it settles down as not on fixed contract.

With Bulb also, tariff has gone up 3 times this year starting in April. I've tried looking but not much out there better or willing to take you on. My DD is low anyway as i work away alot. So for once im behind due to the lockdowns and being at home for longer tgan normal.

Bulb havent been bad but others in the past have upped the DD continously until i was £500 in credit! (Spark also bust). So im gonna ride this out. There is a max cap they can charge that's not gonna be reviewed til Feb next year. So i cant see there being many options soon as they will all be close to that msx right now.

[Irish_Steve]

I'm with Octopus too and have been with them on and off over the years, I tend to switch around a lot but I think those days may be coming to an end.

Anyway, my idea of central heating is to close the windows. I'll be sitting in my shorts and t-shirt while my wife with have about three jumpers on and hiding under a blanket.

Hope she doesn't twig that I turn the thermostat down on the boiler lol

[Eyrie]

With Bulb also, tariff has gone up 3 times this year starting in April. I've tried looking but not much out there better or willing to take you on. My DD is low anyway as i work away alot. So for once im behind due to the lockdowns and being at home for longer tgan normal.

Bulb havent been bad but others in the past have upped the DD continously until i was £500 in credit! (Spark also bust). So im gonna ride this out. There is a max cap they can charge that's not gonna be reviewed til Feb next year. So i cant see there being many options soon as they will all be close to that msx right now.

Always keep an eye on your balance.

I'll always challenge any increase in my direct debit that I think is excessive, and usually owe the power company a small amount in late spring before building up a credit balance by the autumn to get me through most of the winter.

[CraigHibee]

Think there will be some more smaller companies going under with the energy issue. The biggest problem is the government price cap, the smaller suppliers tend to buy their energy in smaller batches where as the bigger suppliers buy lots at a time. Due to the crazy hikes in prices the smaller companies cant cope, others will follow suit as the government have already said they won't be changing the price cap so suppliers won't be able to pass on the increase right now to customers

[CockneyRebel]

Well ours went bust last week :rolleyes: apparently the fourth in recent times, peoples energy we were with them since almost the beginning in 2018, East Lothian couple start up business guaranteeing 75 % of profit returned to customers... Still waiting for a single bean lol


I was with Bulb for a few years then they got taken over by Peoples Energy and it is that company that has now ceased trading. I am now waiting to see who takes me on next, just when I had signed up for a fixed term tariff as well!

[Moulin Yarns]

I was with Bulb for a few years then they got taken over by Peoples Energy and it is that company that has now ceased trading. I am now waiting to see who takes me on next, just when I had signed up for a fixed term tariff as well!

Bulb still exists, I'm one of their 1.7m customers.

[Renton1875]

I was with Bulb for a few years then they got taken over by Peoples Energy and it is that company that has now ceased trading. I am now waiting to see who takes me on next, just when I had signed up for a fixed term tariff as well!

British Gas have taken on the Peoples Energy customers. You should have an email from them. Sit tight until everthing is set up and then look at switching, that's what I'm planning albeit it there may be a limited choice.

[G15 Hibs]

British Gas have taken on the Peoples Energy customers. You should have an email from them. Sit tight until everthing is set up and then look at switching, that's what I'm planning albeit it there may be a limited choice.

At the moment you might be as well staying with British Gas for a bit until everything settles down in a few months. Its doubtful many suppliers will be offering anything much better than the price cap tariff, if they're taking on new customers at all, and even if you were to switch just now there's no guarantee the supplier would last and you wouldn't end up back with British Gas again anyway.

[Moulin Yarns]

At the moment you might be as well staying with British Gas for a bit until everything settles down in a few months. Its doubtful many suppliers will be offering anything much better than the price cap tariff, if they're taking on new customers at all, and even if you were to switch just now there's no guarantee the supplier would last and you wouldn't end up back with British Gas again anyway.

I did a price comparison yesterday and nobody was cheaper than my existing bulb contract.

[bigwheel]

Back to the original post - I wonder if we are still due funds from the sponsorship . Unlikely to get it if they are in trouble …wonder if we are looking for a replacement ?

[LunasBoots]

With Utiita as well, meh.

[G15 Hibs]

Back to the original post - I wonder if we are still due funds from the sponsorship . Unlikely to get it if they are in trouble …wonder if we are looking for a replacement ?

You've got to think that even if they were to survive they'd have decisions to make over the cost of sponsorship/advertising weighed against what they gain from it. Don't know if there'd be a way out of the agreement they have with Hibs if they were looking to cut spending at all.

[CockneyRebel]

Bulb still exists, I'm one of their 1.7m customers.

This is weird! I was with Bulb for a few years and about 6 months ago was emailed that they were ceasing to trade and I would be allocated a new provider who turned out to be Peoples Energy. They emailed me about 2 or 3 weeks ago and said the same thing. I haven't heard who will be my new provider. How come I got switched from Bulb to Peoples Energy yet Bulb are still trading?

[Wakeyhibee]

Always keep an eye on your balance.

I'll always challenge any increase in my direct debit that I think is excessive, and usually owe the power company a small amount in late spring before building up a credit balance by the autumn to get me through most of the winter.

I do and have done for a while now, I average yearly usage and divide by 12. When in Yorkshire YE raised DDs regularly regardless of challenges from me or usage/prices, Spark did it more recently then went bust 2/3 years ago. Looks like Bulb may go the same way albeit they've been good overall.

[HH81]

This is weird! I was with Bulb for a few years and about 6 months ago was emailed that they were ceasing to trade and I would be allocated a new provider who turned out to be Peoples Energy. They emailed me about 2 or 3 weeks ago and said the same thing. I haven't heard who will be my new provider. How come I got switched from Bulb to Peoples Energy yet Bulb are still trading?

Could you have been tricked by current provider into their contract?

[G15 Hibs]

This is weird! I was with Bulb for a few years and about 6 months ago was emailed that they were ceasing to trade and I would be allocated a new provider who turned out to be Peoples Energy. They emailed me about 2 or 3 weeks ago and said the same thing. I haven't heard who will be my new provider. How come I got switched from Bulb to Peoples Energy yet Bulb are still trading?

Did you ever sign up to an auto-transfer service like Look After My Bills? A lot of folk ended up with People's Energy via these kind of companies, without realising what it involved. Bulb are certainly still operating (for now at least) and People's Energy have never been appointed as supplier of last resort for any failed supplier. Either that or you've been scammed.

[CockneyRebel]

Did you ever sign up to an auto-transfer service like Look After My Bills? A lot of folk ended up with People's Energy via these kind of companies, without realising what it involved. Bulb are certainly still operating (for now at least) and People's Energy have never been appointed as supplier of last resort for any failed supplier. Either that or you've been scammed.

I did sign up to Look after my Bills but they were supposed to ok any changes with me before moving me. If they did move me then they shifted me to a failing company. Not good. Just went onto Bulb website and they offered to provide for me at £30 per month more than I presently pay. I now hear that Peoples Energy customers have been taken on by British Gas so I await my new tariff from them.

I will now leave Look after my Bills and just use the comparison sites in future like I did before.

[G15 Hibs]

I did sign up to Look after my Bills but they were supposed to ok any changes with me before moving me. If they did move me then they they shifted me to a failing company. Not good. Just went onto Bulb website and they offered to provide for me at £30 per month more than I presently pay. I now hear that Peoples Energy customers have been taken on by British Gas so I await my new tariff from them.

I will now leave Look after my Bills and just use the comparison sites in future like I did before.

That's a good idea. From what I've heard of Look After My Bills and these types of company they're not always great at communicating what's happening. A lot of People's Energy complaints were about exactly the situation you've described.

British Gas should be in touch with you in the next week or so to confirm that you're with them, tariff (it will be the price cap tariff), your account number etc. If you were in credit with People's Energy that will transfer over to British Gas. The best thing you can do just now is to take meter readings to make sure the old People's Energy account and the new British Gas account end and start of the right readings.

[CockneyRebel]

That's a good idea. From what I've heard of Look After My Bills and these types of company they're not always great at communicating what's happening. A lot of People's Energy complaints were about exactly the situation you've described.

British Gas should be in touch with you in the next week or so to confirm that you're with them, tariff (it will be the price cap tariff), your account number etc. If you were in credit with People's Energy that will transfer over to British Gas. The best thing you can do just now is to take meter readings to make sure the old People's Energy account and the new British Gas account end and start of the right readings.


Thanks for that. Will take daily meter readings until I know the switch starting date.

[Lago]

I did sign up to Look after my Bills but they were supposed to ok any changes with me before moving me. If they did move me then they shifted me to a failing company. Not good. Just went onto Bulb website and they offered to provide for me at £30 per month more than I presently pay. I now hear that Peoples Energy customers have been taken on by British Gas so I await my new tariff from them.

I will now leave Look after my Bills and just use the comparison sites in future like I did before.
Looks as if you took your eye off the ball with this one, always pays to check and check again.

[oldbutdim]

I just tried to check my account with Avro energy after seeing this and the website says they’ve gone out of business, nice of them to tell me!

I got my welcome pack from Avro on Monday..................

The last three energy companies I signed up with have all gone bust. Looks like I'm a jinx.

I'm going to test the theory by buying some shares in the The Rangers and Hearts.

[overdrive]

I’ve always been someone who regularly switched. However, I always disregarded the smaller names, ones I’d never heard of. That was mainly because of being bullied by a letting agent into going with and staying with Spark Energy who were absolutely awful.

I’m glad I had that philosophy of avoiding smaller providers now.

[The Harp Awakes]

I did sign up to Look after my Bills but they were supposed to ok any changes with me before moving me. If they did move me then they shifted me to a failing company. Not good. Just went onto Bulb website and they offered to provide for me at £30 per month more than I presently pay. I now hear that Peoples Energy customers have been taken on by British Gas so I await my new tariff from them.

I will now leave Look after my Bills and just use the comparison sites in future like I did before.

I wouldn't be too optimistic about the British Gas new tariff. I was with PfP Energy which was one of the first to go bust ~2 to 3 weeks ago. I was notified fairly quickly after that British Gas would be taking over the supply, saying that they would put me on a special tariff not available on price comparison websites. Was notified about the tariff a few days ago and the p/kW is ~65% more expensive than what I was on with PfP and the fixed charge is significantly higher too.

The timing of all this is a nightmare for low income families, just before the onset of Winter. Not good at all.

[hibeg]

I’ve renewed, about a month ago, with OVO Energy on a 2 year fix.
Hopefully they are big enough to survive !
Compared prices with Octupus but forgot about Bulb. :rolleyes:

[Fuzzywuzzy]

I'm with shell energy and locked in until 2022 currently £95 a month for both and in credit which is a bonus. Obviously that'll change over the winter and probably go up to about £120

[wookie70]

I was with Utility Point who have just gone bust. EDF taking over. They were dreadful the last time I was with them and like a few suppliers got estimates and bills completely wrong. The whole energy sector is a mess imo. It should be so simple, a smart meter that works, simplified tariffs and strong regulation. They screw you when they speculate in their favour and bail out when they think they will lose their stake. It should be nationalised immediately and in Scotland we should move to being fully electric with the vast majority if not all created using renewable sources.

[zitelli62]

I'm on a fixed tariff with eon dosnt run out till end of December but my latest bill has went up 16 pound not sure how there allowed to do that.

[HH81]

I'm on a fixed tariff with eon dosnt run out till end of December but my latest bill has went up 16 pound not sure how there allowed to do that.

Phone contracts do it so it will be in the terms and conditions no doubt.

[G15 Hibs]

I'm on a fixed tariff with eon dosnt run out till end of December but my latest bill has went up 16 pound not sure how there allowed to do that.

Your tariff (i.e. pence per kilowatt hour and daily standing charge) is what is fixed. Your bill or Direct Debit isn't fixed and will fluctuate depending on how much energy you use.

[davemcbain]

Back to the original post - I wonder if we are still due funds from the sponsorship . Unlikely to get it if they are in trouble …wonder if we are looking for a replacement ?

Chief Exec of Utilita was on the news this morning (can't remember which channel) saying he was confident they would ride out the storm and that they had pre-bought in bulk, so were comfortable with their supply prices until the end of the year. He was explaining that the "smaller" companies were pre-purchasing less and tying fixed prices around current rates - model which works well if the price doesn't go through the roof and that the bigger guys were hedging several months in advance. If prices keep rising till Christmas though, could all be a different story.

[wookie70]

I got my welcome pack from Avro on Monday..................

The last three energy companies I signed up with have all gone bust. Looks like I'm a jinx.

I'm going to test the theory by buying some shares in the The Rangers and Hearts.

Just reading about Avro. Millions in management fees to a company with £100 quid of assets and 3 employees two of who were the owners of Avro. The list went on about lots of other ex facie dodgy deals and basically confirms what my beliefs are. These companies and many other companies that grow quickly aren't that much different from pyramid schemes. It seems "businessmen" who do everything wrong are the ones who make huge sums of money despite their companies failing and taking customers with them. It is the UK all over imo where customers and citizens are the fall guys for whatever money making wheeze the spiffs and rich come up with. Lots will have taken deals with companies that really weren't what they seemed and are now stuck with terrible tariffs while those who owned the companies walk away with millions. There is no such thing as regulation in the UK, companies basically do what they want, and customers and citizens don't really count for anything

[Dmas]

Just reading about Avro. Millions in management fees to a company with £100 quid of assets and 3 employees two of who were the owners of Avro. The list went on about lots of other ex facie dodgy deals and basically confirms what my beliefs are. These companies and many other companies that grow quickly aren't that much different from pyramid schemes. It seems "businessmen" who do everything wrong are the ones who make huge sums of money despite their companies failing and taking customers with them. It is the UK all over imo where customers and citizens are the fall guys for whatever money making wheeze the spiffs and rich come up with. Lots will have taken deals with companies that really weren't what they seemed and are now stuck with terrible tariffs while those who owned the companies walk away with millions. There is no such thing as regulation in the UK, companies basically do what they want, and customers and citizens don't really count for anything

There’s a piece in the times which goes tells you about this today

[wookie70]

There’s a piece in the times which goes tells you about this today

Not an unusual story in get rich on the back of other Britain.