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GB Energy | Now Octopus Energy | UK Power
Who is GB Energy?
GB Energy was launched in late 2014 and began taking on customers from January 2015. Its aim was to bring a fresh approach to home energy supply and make it easy and effortless to switch and save.
It planned on keeping energy costs down by running a highly efficient business and keeping overheads to a minimum by offering an online product and not spending money on expensive TV, Radio, or other advertising.
Sadly, the company collapsed in spectacular circumstances less than two years later, effectively becoming the first of what became a cluster of energy companies to go to the wall over the next couple of years.
When GB Energy anounced that it would cease trading, Ofgem announced that Co-operative Energy would be the supplier of last resort and take on its customers.
In 2019, Octopus Energy bought Co-operative Energy, and took on its 300,000 domestic energy customers, including those who were supplied by GB Energy and also Flow Energy.
As part of the deal, customers of GB Energy and Flow Energy were moved across to Octopus Energy tariffs, maintaining any fixed priced deals that customers were on, and while moving any customers not on a fixed plan over to its flexible tariff. As part of the move, customers’ Direct Debits were taken over by Octopus Energy, while any credit balances were also protected and moved.
The Co-operative Energy brand is still alive and well though, as Octopus decided there was a lot of trust and goodwill where the Co-op name is concerned and so all m Co-op Energy customers continue to be billed by Co-op Energy, and get 100% renewable electricity at the same rates and earn membership points.
To find out more, go to the Octopus Energy website.
What is GB Energy’s fuel mix?
Electricity is generated from a combination of different fuels, including nuclear, coal and renewable sources (wind, hydro and solar). The different amounts of each fuel contributed makes up a supplier’s fuel mix.
As Flow Energy is now owned by Octopus, here is Octopus Energy’s gas and electricity fuel mix as of April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019:
| Electricity supplied by Octopus % of total | Average for GB (for comparison) % of total | |
|---|---|---|
| Coal | 0.0% | 5.2% |
| Natural gas | 0.0% | 41.4% |
| Nuclear | 0.0% | 18.7% |
| Renewable | 100.0% | 32.8% |
| Other | 0.0% | 1.9% |
| Total | 0.0% | 100.0% |
How to compare gas and electricity prices from GB Energy
To compare energy deals, just pop your postcode in the box at the top of the page and you’ll be taken to our price comparison tool.
Once there, just enter a few more details about your current supplier and we’ll show you a list of energy deals from a wide range of providers, along with the annual amount you could save by switching.
To specifically compare GB Energy tariffs, you’ll need to click on the Octopus Energy logo in the ‘Choose suppliers’ section of the results page.
How to switch to GB Energy
As GB Energy is now Octopus Energy, once you’ve found the Octopus Energy tariff that best suits your needs and budget, click ‘Choose plan’, and we’ll take care of the rest - letting both your old and new suppliers know about the energy switch.
If you’d prefer to talk to one of our energy experts, give us a call on 0800 320 2000, and we'll help you get a better deal for your energy.
To get the most accurate quotes, grab a recent energy bill and try to have the following details to hand:
- The name of your current gas and electricity supplier
- How you pay your energy bills (eg direct debit, prepayment meter, etc.)
- The name of the current tariff you’re on.
- The amount of energy you use, or the amount you spend on energy each month, quarter or year.
Don’t worry if you don't have this information available, we can still run quotes based upon the size of your property.
Our service is free and impartial, and our experts compare prices across the market to find a tariff that suits your needs and your budget.
How to contact GB Energy
If you need to get in touch with GB Energy, you’ll now need to do so via Octopus Energy, which you can do in either of the following ways:
Phone - 0808 164 1088
Email - hello@octopus.energy
Twitter - https://twitter.com/octopus_energy
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/octopusenergy/
For more information, check out Octopus Energy’s Help and FAQs page.
How to complain to GB Energy
If you need to make a complaint about GB Energy, you’ll need to raise the issue directly with Octopus Energy, to give them a chance to put it right.
If you manage your Octopus Energy account online, log in and fill out the form within your account page under the contact us menu.
You can also register your complaint by calling 0808 164 1088 between 9am — 5pm Monday to Thursday, and 9am — 4pm on Friday.
Always make a note of the date and time you called, and take the name of any customer service team members you speak to.
You should always follow up your call with a letter or an email. You can write to Octopus Energy at:
Octopus Energy,
One Colton Square,
Leicester
LE1 1QH
Or email your complaint to hello@octopus.energy.
If your complaint isn’t resolved within eight weeks, or you’re unhappy with Octopus Energy’s decision or handling of your complaint, you can then escalate your complaint to the energy ombudsman who can get Octopus Energy to look at your complaint again, decide they made the right decision, or force them to give you a response to your complaint.
In some cases, the ombudsman might tell Octopus Energy to offer you financial compensation.
You can get in touch with the energy ombudsman by visiting their website www.Ombudsman-Services.org/complain-now, emailing osenquiries@osenergy.org, or calling 0330 440 1624.
