Solarplicity Explained

Former Name:LoCO2
Type:Private
Industry:Electricity and gas supply
Founded:2009 (as LoCO2)
Hq Location:Ware, Hertfordshire
Area Served:United Kingdom
Key People:David Elbourne (CEO)

Solarplicity Energy Limited was a renewable energy company based in Hertfordshire, England. In August 2019 the company became the 13th energy supplier to collapse since 2018, affecting around 7,500 domestic and 500 business customers.[1]

History

LoCO2 Energy was established in 2009 as the retail arm of a vertically integrated group of energy companies known as TradeLink Solutions.[2]

Solarplicity began in 2012 as a provider of solar panel systems.[3] [4] [5] It acquired and rebranded LoCO2 Energy in spring 2017.[6]

An initiative to install solar panels on Stoke-on-Trent council homes, marketed as Community Energy Scheme, commenced in 2018.[7] [8]

Energy tariffs

Solarplicity offered several green energy plans to domestic accounts including fixed, variable and smart meter tariffs.[9] Businesses were offered a gas and renewable electricity tariff with no standing charge.[10]

Fuel mix

Solarplicity's overall fuel mix for 2017/2018 saw 100% of electricity generated from renewables.[11]

Customer service

Solarplicity was ranked lowest for customer service of 30 energy suppliers in a 2019 survey published by consumer group Which?, citing issues with its online and phone customer service, and poor handling of complaints.[12]

Citizens Advice quarterly assessment of energy suppliers has consistently rated Solarplicity poorly.[13] [14] [15] For the period January–March 2019 it was placed 32nd out of 39 suppliers with an overall score of 2.3/5, a slight improvement on the previous quarter.[16] [17]

Review website Trustpilot lists the company as "poor". Recurring comments involve billing issues and overdue refunds.[18]

The Energy Ombudsman stated there were 3,324 complaints against Solarplicity in 2019, including 583 in July.[19]

Regulator action

Industry regulator Ofgem can issue enforcement action against energy companies it believes may breach its licence conditions. A provisional order signals an investigation of an apparent breach. A final order can be issued when Ofgem is satisfied a breach has occurred. An operator may face fines or have its licence to operate revoked.[20]

First Provisional Order

The Energy Ombudsman investigated over 1,000 complaints against the supplier in 2018.[21] Highlighting customer service and account switching issues, on 22 February 2019 Ofgem issued a provisional order banning Solarplicity from taking on new customers for three months and also prohibiting increases of vulnerable customers' direct debit payments.[22] [23] Citizens Advice supported this move.[24]

Channel 4 programme Supershoppers broadcast in May claimed Solarplicity staff were "very sneaky", repeatedly stating they were unable accept new customers because the company was "changing tariffs", not due to a banning order. In only one of five calls made by Supershoppers did staff admit they were "taking time to rectify issues with current customers." In a statement for the show, the energy supplier claimed it had "made significant improvements to its customer service performance."[25]

Three months after issuing the provisional order, Ofgem determined Solarplicity had taken sufficient steps to address its concerns and allowed the order to lapse. Amongst agreed undertakings, the company would not acquire new domestic customers until 5 August 2019, except for a limited number under its community energy scheme.[26]

Utility Week, an industry journal, revealed that despite Ofgem's relaxation, complaints to the Energy Ombudsman had actually surged, with over 2,000 complaints during January–May 2019 and 478 in April alone. The ombudsman indicated there were problems with timely remediation including goodwill payments and refunds. Solarplicity suggested customers were bypassing its complaints process and contacting the ombudsman first. The company repeated claims of service improvements.[27]

Second Provisional Order

In May 2019, Ofgem demanded Solarplicity settle outstanding feed-in tariff (FIT) payments due to several energy generators and meet ongoing obligations. The company had failed to pay some generators on time despite receiving FIT levelisation payments itself.[28]

Solarplicity missed further payments in June. Following fresh complaints Ofgem was satisfied that the company had breached its rules and confirmed the order in August.[29] [30] The order lapsed when Solarplicity Supply ceased trading and its licence was revoked.[31]

Partial sale to Toto Energy and collapse of Solarplicity Supply

In late July 2019, 43,000 of Solarplicity's 60,000 domestic accounts were acquired by Toto Energy.[32] [33] Transfer of affected customers occurred early August. The agreement included Toto supplying all Community Energy Scheme customers. Solarplicity continued to serve business customers and the remaining domestic accounts.[34] Shortly after the Toto deal, Solarplicity Supply ceased trading.[35]

Solarplicity denied speculation in The Guardian that it sold off its "valuable" accounts to Toto, leaving Ofgem to cover debts. The newspaper believed Solarplicity owed over £3.5m in outstanding credit balances when it ceased trading.[36] The week prior to the collapse, some customers, including those transferred to Toto Energy, reported erroneous direct debit payments taken from their accounts.[37] Ofgem appointed EDF Energy as the supplier of last resort (SoLR) for impacted residential customers, ensuring there was no disruption to energy supply.[38]

Customers transferred to Toto Energy faced further disruption when it failed in October, just three months after the Solarplicity transaction.[39]

Financial reporting and administrations

Administrators were appointed to Solarplicity Supply and Solarplicity Energy on 19 August 2019, shortly before Companies Court winding up hearings petitioned by HM Revenue & Customs and smart meter infrastructure company Smart DCC.[40] [41] [42] Accounts to 31 March 2018 for both companies were seven months overdue.[43] [44]

Ofgem stated Solarplicity Supply owed National Grid Gas over £140,000 and Smart DCC over £280,000.[45]

For the year ended 31 March 2017, Solarplicity Energy Limited's profit was £26,177 on a turnover of £13.1m; this compares to a profit for the previous year of £81,582 on a turnover of £12.1m.[46]

In July 2019, four other companies were placed in administration.[47] [48] [49] [50] Winding-up petitions against several Solarplicity businesses had also been instigated by HM Revenue & Customs.[51] [52] [53] [54] At the time Solarplicity stated the petitions were settled, dismissed by or adjourned.[55] [56]

In 2018, Solarplicity Ltd, the energy generation arm, was put into liquidation on 14 May following a winding up petition from HM Revenue & Customs. Documents filed at Companies House indicate a total of £3.96 million in outstanding and overdue taxes owed by this entity.[57]

Peerglow Group

Solarplicity Group which formerly owned Solarplicity Energy Limited was renamed Peerglow Group in 2019 and performs head office activities.[58] Its late-filed 2018 accounts showed negative capital and reserves of almost £4 million.[59] Apollo Investment Corp. considers its equity stake in this group "worthless".[60]

Notes and References

  1. News: Ambrose . Jillian . 2019-08-13 . Solarplicity becomes 13th energy supplier to collapse since 2018 . 2020-01-30 . . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  2. Web site: Renewable Energy Services and Consultancy Tradelink Solutions . Tradelinksolutions.com . 2014-02-16.
  3. Web site: Elbourne . David . Solar Energy sees a New Dawn . LinkedIn . 24 April 2019 . 17 November 2015.
  4. Web site: Solarplicity divests 133 MW of solar assets . Your Renewable News . 24 April 2019 . 30 January 2018.
  5. Web site: Solar PV Systems for Your Business . Solarplicity . 10 March 2019.
  6. Web site: SOLARPLICITY ENERGY LIMITED. Companies House. UK Government. 7 May 2018.
  7. Web site: Customers slam money-saving energy scheme as a 'farce' – after waiting TWO MONTHS for work . Stoke on Trent Live . Local World . 24 May 2019. 29 August 2018 .
  8. Web site: Terms and Conditions – Community Energy Scheme . Community Energy Scheme . 23 July 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190723194225/https://communityenergyscheme.com/terms-and-conditions . 23 July 2019.
  9. Web site: Energy Plans . Solarplicity . 10 March 2019.
  10. Web site: Business Energy and Solar Offerings from Solarplicity . Solarplicity . 10 March 2019.
  11. Web site: Our Renewable Energy: Where does it come from?.
  12. Web site: Best and worst energy companies for 2019. 21 January 2019.
  13. Web site: Smaller and newer energy suppliers bottom of the pile for customer service once again - Citizens Advice.
  14. Web site: OneSelect Comes Last in Citizens Advice Energy Star Rating . Citizens Advice . 15 March 2019 . 8 December 2018.
  15. Web site: Increasing Numbers of Small and Newer Energy Suppliers Delivering Poor Customer Service . Citizens Advice . 15 March 2019 . 15 March 2019.
  16. Web site: Too many energy firms struggling to deliver good customer service, says Citizens Advice . Citizens Advice . 25 June 2019 . 25 June 2019.
  17. Web site: Compare domestic energy suppliers' customer service . Citizens Advice . 24 June 2019 . 24 June 2019.
  18. Web site: Solarplicity Reviews. 9 August 2019. Trustpilot.
  19. Web site: Statement on the collapse of Solarplicity Supply Ltd. 13 August 2019. Ombudsman Services. 13 August 2019.
  20. Web site: rovisional orders and final orders . Ofgem . 10 July 2019. 19 December 2018 .
  21. Web site: Energy supplier Solarplicity banned from taking on new customers . The Mirror . 22 February 2019 . 22 February 2019.
  22. Web site: Ofgem orders Solarplicity to make significant customer service improvements . Ofgem . 22 February 2019 . 22 February 2019.
  23. Web site: Solarplicity Supply Ltd: Provisional Order . Ofgem . 22 February 2019 . 22 February 2019.
  24. Web site: Solarplicity provisional order "necessary to protect existing customers", says Citizens Advice . Citizens Advice . 15 March 2019 . 22 February 2019.
  25. Web site: Supershoppers, Series 6, Episode 6 . Channel 4 . 20 May 2019 . Television programme . 20 May 2019.
  26. Web site: Decision of the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority ("the Authority") not to confirm a Provisional Order. . Ofgem . 23 May 2019 . 22 May 2019.
  27. Web site: Adam John . Ombudsman receives 2,000 Solarplicity complaints . Utility Weeks . 24 May 2019 . 24 May 2019.
  28. Web site: Solarplicity Supply Ltd: provisional order (failure to make FIT payments) . Ofgem . 12 May 2019 . 10 May 2019.
  29. Web site: Confirmed Provisional Order – Solarplicity Supply Limited – 6 August 2019. 9 August 2019. Ofgem. 9 August 2019.
  30. Web site: Notice of Reasons to confirm Solarplicity provisional order – 6 August 2019. 9 August 2019. Ofgem. 9 August 2019.
  31. Web site: Solarplicity Supply Ltd: provisional order (failure to make FIT payments) . Ofgem . 23 August 2019 . 23 August 2019.
  32. Web site: Toto Energy acquires 43,000 Solarplicity customers . New Power . 30 July 2019 . 29 July 2019.
  33. Web site: Toto Energy acquires the bulk of Solarplicity's customers. Lunn. Emma. 2019-07-31. Your Money. en. 2019-08-01.
  34. Web site: Welcome to TOTO! . TOTO Energy . 29 July 2019.
  35. Web site: Solarplicity Supply ceases to trade – and this is what it means for thousands of Stoke-on-Trent customers . StokeonTrentLive . The Sentinel . 13 August 2019 . 13 August 2019.
  36. News: Small energy companies risk going bust in financial shock. 18 August 2019. The Guardian. 18 August 2019.
  37. Web site: Solarplicity update [Aug 09, 2019]]. 9 August 2019. Ombudsman Services. 9 August 2019.
  38. Web site: Solarplicity customers: Your questions on new supplier EDF. 16 August 2019. Ofgem. 16 August 2019.
  39. News: Peachey . Kevin . Energy supplier Toto ceases trading . 23 October 2019 . BBC . 23 October 2019.
  40. Web site: Companies Court Winding Up List. 27 August 2019. Justice.gov.uk. https://web.archive.org/web/20190827173441/https://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/court-lists/list-companies-winding-up. 27 August 2019. 27 August 2019.
  41. Web site: Notice timeline for SOLARPLICITY SUPPLY LIMITED (08053210). 2 September 2019. The Gazette. 2 September 2019.
  42. Web site: Notice timeline for SOLARPLICITY ENERGY LIMITED (06895776). 2 September 2019. The Gazette. 2 September 2019.
  43. Web site: Solarplicity Energy Ltd.. Companies House. 2 September 2019.
  44. Web site: Solarplicity Supply Limited . Companies House . 2 September 2019.
  45. Web site: Solarplicity Supply Limited – Notice of revocation of an electricity supply licence. 21 August 2019. Ofgem.
  46. Web site: Lee Accounting Services . Report for the Directors and Consolidated Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2017 for Solarplicity Energy Limited . 8 . Amazon Web Services.
  47. Web site: Notice timeline for SPTMY LIMITED (07887237) – Appointment of Administrators. 30 July 2019. The Gazette. TSO. 30 July 2019.
  48. Web site: Notice timeline for SUBSCRIPTION ENERGY LIMITED (11330170) – Appointment of Administrators. 30 July 2019. The Gazette. TSO. 30 July 2019.
  49. Web site: Notice timeline for SOLARPLICITY UTILITY SERVICES LIMITED (09415844) – Appointment of Administrators. 30 July 2019. The Gazette. TSO. 30 July 2019.
  50. Web site: Notice timeline for GAMMA RAY AM LIMITED (09789415) – Appointment of Administrators. 30 July 2019. The Gazette. TSO. 31 July 2019.
  51. Web site: Notice timeline for GAMMA RAY AM LIMITED (09789415). 12 July 2019. The Gazette. The London Gazette. 12 July 2019.
  52. Web site: Notice timeline for SOLARPLICITY UTILITY SERVICES LIMITED (09415844). 12 July 2019. The Gazette. The London Gazette. 12 July 2019.
  53. Web site: Notice timeline for SPTMY LIMITED (07887237). 12 July 2019. The Gazette. The London Gazette. 12 July 2019.
  54. Web site: Companies Court Winding Up List. 23 July 2019. Justice.gov.uk. https://web.archive.org/web/20190723114649/https://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/court-lists/list-companies-winding-up. 23 July 2019. 23 July 2019.
  55. News: Troubled energy supplier Solarplicity faces a battle with the taxman over allegedly unpaid bills.. 24 June 2019. The Sunday Times.
  56. Web site: Several winding up petitions filed against Solarplicity. John. Adam. 25 July 2019. Utility Week. 26 July 2019.
  57. Web site: AMP 5000 LIMITED filing history - Find and update company information - GOV.UK.
  58. Web site: Peerglow Group Limited . Companies House . 1 November 2019.
  59. Web site: Peerglow Group - Micro company accounts . Companies House . 1 November 2019.
  60. Web site: Form 10Q – Apollo Investment Corporation. 6 August 2019. Apollo Investment Corporation. 18. 7 August 2019.

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