British Gas has been appointed as the Supplier of Last Resort (SoLR) following the collapse of Tomato Energy, taking on approximately 23,700 customers. Tomato Energy, which served around 15,000 domestic and 8,000 non-domestic customers across the UK, ceased trading as confirmed by Ofgem.
Since 2021, British Gas has stepped in to support over 700,000 customers from ten different failed energy suppliers, providing a stable transition and continued energy supply. Customers of Tomato Energy will experience no disruption in their energy service, and those with credit balances will have their funds fully protected.
British Gas is currently setting up accounts for the affected customers and will reach out directly in the coming days to guide them through the transfer process. Customers are advised not to switch suppliers until they have been fully set up with British Gas.
Chris O’Shea, Group Chief Executive of Centrica, emphasized the urgent need for regulatory reform: “The collapse of Tomato Energy marks the 31st supplier failure since 2021. Ofgem’s lack of action on financial resilience has left customers vulnerable, with every household facing an average £100 increase in bills due to these failures. Reform is essential—suppliers must meet robust capital requirements and safeguard customer funds to prevent repeated collapses."
He continued, expressing concerns about regulatory leniency: “Recent reports indicate Ofgem has eased rules for financially distressed large suppliers, even as Tomato Energy was allowed to fail. Greater transparency is needed so that customers can trust their energy providers.”
British Gas is committed to ensuring a seamless transition for Tomato Energy’s customers, securing their energy supply and protecting their credit balances throughout the process.