Northumbria Energy

Northumbria Energy was a UK energy supplier that ceased trading in 2020.

What happened?

• Northumbria Energy Limited (company number 08799870) entered a winding-up order on 16 March 2020.
• Its status as an energy supplier was tied to the business of UK Energy Incubator Hub Ltd (UKEIH) which, under the branded names “Neo Energy” and “Northumbria Energy”, ceased trading on 9 July 2022.
• In the fall-out, Octopus Energy Ltd was appointed by the regulator Ofgem to take over the domestic customer accounts from Neo/Northumbria.

Key numbers and metrics

• The Company House record for Northumbria Energy Limited shows a winding-up order on 16 March 2020; the formal dissolution subsequently.
• UKEIH (covering Neo & Northumbria branding) appointed Octopus Energy to take over customers who were impacted on 9 July 2022.
• Approximate number of domestic customer accounts transferred: ~3,000.

Why it matters for UK businesses

• Although Northumbria/Neo were smaller suppliers, their exit underscores the supplier-risk dimension even for branded or white-label suppliers in the UK energy market.
• For business customers (especially small/medium enterprises) engaged with providers like these, the event highlights the need to check supplier licence status, brand reliability, corporate structure (e.g., whether it’s a fully licensed supplier or a branded arm of another business).
• When a supplier ceases trading, domestic customers are protected under the “supplier of last resort” (SoLR) regime set by Ofgem; business customers may face greater complexity (transfer processes, credit balances, contract renegotiation).
• Given that Northumbria/Neo were connected to UKEIH and ceased trading amid compliance and licence issues, businesses should note the importance of ongoing regulatory compliance, not just price or tariff attractiveness.

Summary

While Northumbria Energy (and its associated entity UKEIH) operated at a smaller scale compared to major suppliers, its departure from the market is a useful cautionary tale for business energy procurement. For UK businesses selecting or reviewing energy supply contracts, this case reinforces the importance of supplier financial/resilience risk, regulatory compliance, clarity in contract terms around failure or exit, and ensuring business customers have continuity protections as part of their supply strategy.