Supplier of Last Resort (SoLR)

What is the purpose of this guidance?

The Energy Ombudsman has devised a standard approach for dealing with dispute resolution when a supplier in the energy market has ceased trading and a SoLR has been appointed.

This standard approach applies to both gas and electricity suppliers to residential users in the UK, excluding Northern Ireland.

The Standard Approach

If a supplier ceases trading it is unable to fulfil its obligations as an energy supplier.

The Energy Ombudsman will not consider disputes against a supplier that has ceased trading as the supplier will not able to implement resolutions or provide financial awards to consumers.

For the same reasons, the Energy Ombudsman is not able to progress any cases currently open on its systems. Consumers who have a complaint about the failed supplier may wish to contact the administrator in an attempt to gain a resolution.

To ensure consumers of the failed supplier have a continuous supply of gas and electricity, Ofgem will appoint a SoLR. The SoLR does not have an obligation to take on complaints about the supplier in administration as it was not involved in this complaints process.

In addition to its standard obligations, the new supplier may make additional commitments to affected customers. In the past, all Suppliers of Last Resort have committed to honouring the credit balances of customers who were owed money by the former supplier. You should check the SoLR’s website for the commitments it has made.

Where consumers have a new complaint, or an unresolved issue with the failed supplier they should initially raise this directly with the new supplier. If the complaint is unresolved after eight weeks, the consumer can pursue dispute resolution through the Energy Ombudsman.

Notes: The SoLR process does not apply to Heat Networks or Green Deal.