British Gas owner Centrica hits out at fiasco over bust firms

British Gas owner Centrica and EDF have slammed administrators for ‘aggravating’ problems caused by the collapse of energy suppliers. 

Centrica has written to Ofgem, demanding that the regulator intervenes to speed up the process of ‘onboarding’ customers stranded when their supplier has gone bust. 

It claims administrators had not only slowed the process of handing over customers’ details, but also taken unnecessary direct debit payments, leaving consumers furious. 

British Gas was named by MoneySavingExpert as the worst firm to pick up customers via the process. It took consumers from nine of the nearly 30 suppliers which went bust last year as wholesale energy costs soared. Customers cited missing credit balances, billing delays and poor communication. 

But, giving evidence to MPs last week, Centrica chief Chris O’Shea said: ‘The administrator of the failed company is not incentivised to do anything quickly. They would not give us any information on credit balances… [Customers] are several months into their journey with British Gas, and they are quite rightly deeply unhappy.’ 

EDF UK chief Simone Rossi claimed administrators had ‘aggravated an already-difficult situation’, adding: ‘Our experience with administrators has been awful.’ 

O’Shea singled out consultancy Alvarez and Marsal – which worked on the administration of PFP Energy and People’s Energy – for the ‘two worst transfers’. 

A&M said it did ‘everything we can to facilitate a smooth transition’ but had a duty to act in the best interests of creditors.