Our Latest Articles - Purely Energy
The Direct Link Between Wholesale Gas Prices and Market Collapse Report Date: November 10, 2025 Analysis Period: July 2018 - November 2025 Total Suppliers Failed: 54 Total Customers Affected: 6,012,316 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Between 2018 and 2025, the UK energy market experienced an crisis that resulted in 54 energy suppliers ceasing operations, affecting over 6 million customers. The crisis was directly caused by a dramatic surge in wholesale gas prices that began in August 2021 and peaked in August 2022, with prices reaching £250/MWh - over 10 times higher than pre-crisis levels. Key Findings: 2021 was the crisis year: 28 suppliers (51.9% of all failures) collapsed in a single year November 2021 was the peak month: 11 suppliers failed affecting 1.88 million customers Bulb Energy was the largest casualty with 1.7 million customers Octopus Energy became the biggest beneficiary, acquiring 2.37 million customers 71.7% of all affected customers were impacted during 2021 alone 1. TOP ACQUIRING SUPPLIERS: WHO BENEFITED? When energy suppliers fail, Ofgem's "Supplier of Last Resort" process transfers customers to surviving companies. The table below shows which companies took on the most customers: Top 10 Acquiring Suppliers (2018-2025)
Why Tomato Energy Went Bust and What It Means for You
Third-Party Intermediaries (TPIs) to be regulated by the government blog post
What is the new Nuclear RAB Levy and how will it affect business energy bills? Understand why this charge is being introduced, what it funds, and the impact on future electricity costs.
What is the Gas Safe Register and why does it matter for your business? Learn how gas engineers become Gas Safe certified and how this protects your workplace from safety risks.
Understanding the UK's Energy Market Blog Post
Purely Energy is now a certified B Corp. Discover what this achievement means, how we meet the highest standards of social and environmental responsibility, and our commitment to making energy better for businesses.
A business guide to green energy. Understand the difference between green and clean energy, explore the benefits for your organisation, and learn how to make more sustainable energy choices.
How will the new TNUoS changes impact your business in 2026? Understand what’s changing with Transmission Network Use of System charges and how to prepare for future cost implications.
Explore the government’s plan to scrap VAT and environmental levies on energy bills. Learn what the proposed changes could mean for businesses and how they may impact future energy costs.
