Rutherford Energy Supply Limited (trading as Utility Energy)
Your questions answered...
What’s happened to Rutherford Energy / Uttily Energy / my business electricity supplier?
Your business electricity supplier has ceased trading and has gone into administration. Administrators are brought in when a company is in debt or can’t pay money that’s owed. The administrator handles the company and everything owned by the company.
OFGEM – the energy regulator – offers energy customers a ‘safety net’ by appointing another energy supplier to take over the supply to minimise disruption to the customer. On Friday (18th October), OFGEM appointed TotalEnergies Gas & Power.
Uttily plc – the parent company – has also ceased trading. The arrangements are slightly different regarding their commercial arrangements and their customers are urged to contact the Consumer Service (Citizens Advice Bureau) for more information if they have any concerns – Tel: 03454 04 05 06.
More information can be found here: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/ofgem-protects-customers-failed-supplier-rutherford-energy-supply-limited
Will my electricity supply be cut off or interrupted?
No. Your business electricity supply that was previously under contract with Rutherford Energy or Uttily Energy has now transferred over to TotalEnergies Gas & Power. We are part of the TotalEnergies Group and we’ve been operating as a supplier in the UK energy market for over 30 years. We’ll ensure that your supply continues, and we’ll do our best to offer you a new arrangement that’s as good if not better than the one you had with Rutherford or Uttily Energy.
Who can I speak to in order to find out what’s happening?
We’ve set up a dedicated team of business energy professionals to answer your questions and help you determine the best way forward for you and your business. You can contact this team by calling Tel: 0113 232 1027 (phone lines are manned 9am-5pm, Mon-Fri) or email us at [email protected].
Am I still in contract with Rutherford Energy / Uttily Energy?
As Rutherford Energy (trading as Uttily Energy) has ceased trading, the contract that you had with them concerning your business electricity supply is no longer valid. Your supply has been transferred to us by the energy regulator, OFGEM, and we will work with you to put together a new arrangement that meets your business energy needs. We supply many thousands of customers across the UK and we’re confident that we can make you an attractive offer.
I’ve been contacted by TotalEnergies Gas & Power but my supply wasn’t with Rutherford or Uttily
We have been sent a list of customers by OFGEM which came from Rutherford’s customer database. We don’t know how up to date or accurate their database is so please do get in touch so that we can work out how best we proceed from here – which might simply entail removing you from our contact list.
Will my business still be supplied with electricity?
Yes. We have taken over your business electricity supply and we’ll continue to supply you without any disruption to the running of your business. Please take a meter reading (if you haven’t already) and advise us of this reading at the soonest opportunity. This will help us to set up your account accurately and ensure the transition to us is as smooth as possible. If you have more than one meter or site, please take a note of the meter number and meter reading. If you’re not sure how to read your meter, give us a call and we’ll walk you through the process.
We’d love to talk to you about our most attractive offer that’s been created especially for Rutherford Energy and Uttily Energy customers - to ensure you receive this special offer, please call: 0113 232 1027 or email [email protected]. We will need up-to-date contact details from you.
I’m a Uttily customer but my supply hasn’t transferred to TotalEnergies Gas & Power
Uttily Energy was the trading name for Rutherford Energy. If you haven’t heard from us, please give us a call and we’ll check to see if you are on our transfer list. If you aren’t on our list, the likelihood is that you’re a customer of Uttily plc. This is the parent company and they have also ceased trading. However, their commercial energy agreements are different to the ones that have transferred over to us here at TotalEnergies Gas & Power. if you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Consumer Advice Service (Citizens Advice Bureau) on 03454 040506.
What do I need to do next?
If you haven’t already had contact with us, we advise you to contact our dedicated Rutherford energy team on Tel. 0113 232 1027 (9-5, Mon-Fri) or email [email protected]
If you haven’t done so already, please also take a meter reading and we’ll make a note of this against your account with us to ensure you only pay for the energy that you use with us.
I owe Rutherford money. What happens about this / my outstanding balance?
TotalEnergies Gas & Power are not responsible for any debts that customers owe to Rutherford Energy. Any outstanding balances will not be transferred to TotalEnergies Gas & Power. This will be picked up by the administrator.
I had a credit balance with Rutherford Energy. How can I claim this back?
TotalEnergies Gas & Power are intending to honour credit balances for ‘live’ customers of Rutherford Energy / Uttily Energy at the point of administration. We will be in touch to organise this with you shortly. If you’re concerned about this and would prefer to talk to us now, please call us on Tel: 0113 232 1027.
If you left the supply of Rutherford Energy /Uttily Energy and you had a credit balance with them, please contact their administrator on Tel: 020 8059 4799.
I was happy with my price – do I have to change it?
We want to ensure that we do our utmost to make this process as straightforward for you as possible with minimal disruption to the running of your business. With this in mind, we are pleased to be able to offer you a fixed price, 12-month contract that’s the same rate as the one you were paying previously. In order to put this in place, we need to speak to you.
As you’d expect from business energy specialists, we also have other offers available to you. Again, please get in touch to find out more - Tel: 0113 232 1027.
I’ve never heard of TotalEnergies Gas & Power. I’m not sure if I want you to supply me...
We’ve been supplying businesses in the UK with energy for over 30 years. We supply small, medium, large and industrial businesses across the country and have a wealth of knowledge and expertise in understanding what businesses want and need from their energy supplier.
We’re confident that we can make you an offer as good as the one you had with Rutherford Energy or Uttily Energy, if not better! We’d welcome the opportunity to talk to you about this (by phone or email).
In the meantime, you are on an ‘out of contract’ rate which is a slightly higher rate than a contracted price. If you agree to a price with us now, we’ll ensure it’s the price that you pay going back to the date you transferred to us (19th October 2019). We’ll honour backdating your price for a short while, but not for long - so please get in touch.
I've received a call from an energy broker – should I be working with them?
OFGEM –the energy regular – has chosen TotalEnergies Gas & Power to become your new business electricity supplier. They felt we could meet your needs and we will work hard to ensure we do!
We have a long history in the UK energy market and have built up a good reputation during the last few decades. You don’t have to stay with us (but we really hope that you do!) and you’re free to work with whomever you choose.
Please don’t feel pressured to work with anyone that you don’t want to work with!
As OFGEM arranged the transfer of your supply to us – and we’re delighted that they did – we will still need to invoice you for business electricity used from the date of transfer – 19th October 2019 – to the date that you leave our supply. This is an out of contract rate which is a little higher than a contracted price we will be able to offer you. As a Rutherford/Uttily customer, we’ve put together some special deals that you might be interested in. These deals are not available through an energy broker.
If you’d like to see what offers we have already created for you, please drop us an email or give us a call: Tel. 0113 232 1027 (9-5, Mon-Fri) or email [email protected]
I’ve already arranged to transfer my business electricity supply to another company
We’re sorry to hear that, but we completely understand. If you were being supplied by Rutherford Energy or Uttily Energy at the time of them going into administration (on the 19th October 2019), your supply would have transferred to us already on an ‘out of contract’ rate. This rate will be the rate we use to produce your invoice until your supply is transferred to your supplier of choice.
You’re not duty bound to stay with TotalEnergies Gas & Power by any means, but if you’d like to talk to us about your options, you’re welcome to and will be under no obligation.
I have specific requirements for my account… (VAT, CCL, Invoicing Address etc.)
We’re used to dealing with this so please don’t worry.
We have a dedicated team that will work hard to set up your account accurately. This is very important to us and we know how important it is to you! Once you’ve received your electronic ‘welcome’ information, you’ll be able to contact the team and advise them of your arrangements and requirements.
Will my direct debit automatically transfer to TotalEnergies Gas & Power?
No. We haven’t been given any bank details for your business so please do contact us to help us set up your account correctly, including setting up a new direct debit. In the meantime, the administrators will cancel your DD with Rutherford Energy.
I have utility arrangements through a 3rd party management company. Do I need to do anything?
If your electricity supply is managed through a management company or agent, you probably don’t need to do anything. Usually, the managing agents will organise this for you. Please get in touch with them to find out more.
