British Gas has been officially appointed to take on the customers of the collapsed energy provider Tomato Energy, a move that impacts tens of thousands of households and businesses across the UK.
Securing Supply for Thousands
The energy regulator, Ofgem, stepped in to facilitate the transfer following Tomato Energy's demise last week. The process officially began on Sunday, 9th November 2025, ensuring a continuous energy supply for all affected customers.
In total, 15,300 UK households and 8,400 business customers are now being moved to British Gas. Rohan Churm, Ofgem's director for financial resilience and controls, stated that minimising disruption was the top priority.
Protection and Flexibility for Customers
Customers of the former supplier have been assured they do not need to worry. All domestic credit balances are protected and there will be no interruption to their energy supply during the transition.
Furthermore, customers will face no exit fees if they decide to switch to another provider after their account has been moved. They will initially be placed onto a competitive tariff with British Gas, after which they are free to shop around for other deals.
Calls for Industry Reform
Chris O'Shea, group chief executive of British Gas parent company Centrica, used the occasion to criticise the regulatory landscape. He pointed out that Tomato Energy is the 31st supplier to collapse since 2021.
O'Shea claimed that Ofgem's "inaction on financial resilience has left customers exposed for too long", suggesting that every UK household has faced an estimated £100 bill as a result of these collective failures.
He called for urgent reform, demanding that Ofgem ensure all suppliers are robust, comply with capital adequacy rules, and ring-fence customer funds to prevent this cycle from repeating. He also expressed concern over reports that Ofgem has relaxed rules for large suppliers in financial distress.
Despite the criticism, O'Shea confirmed British Gas is "proud to step up" for the affected customers, promising a seamless transition where their energy supply is secure and their credit balances protected.
