Small energy companies N-Z

There are more than 50 energy companies to choose between in England, Scotland and Wales. Yet more than seven in 10 of us get our energy from the six biggest firms.

If you're considering a new supplier – perhaps a cheap one that has caught your eye – here's an introduction to every small energy supplier in Great Britain to help you decide. Click on a company’s name above to skip to its profile.

Firm not listed here? Check our energy company reviews to see if it's among the firms rated in our latest energy companies survey. Our reviews cover the firms from which more than 96% of us buy energy.

If you live in Northern Ireland, find out how Northern Ireland gas and electricity firms match up.

Nabuh Energy

Sheffield-based Nabuh Energy says it sells low-cost, hassle-free prepayment energy. It sells fixed deals for direct debit customers too, none of which have exit fees.

Nabuh Energy has been part of British Gas since 27 April 2021, after it bought the smaller brand.

This means that British Gas supplies customers' gas and electricity (and you pay your bills to it). But the Nabuh Energy brand still exists, tariffs have stayed the same and you should contact Nabuh Energy with any queries.

National Gas

Previously known as British Natural Gas, this small supplier is not to be confused with Britain’s biggest supplier, British Gas. It sells only gas and says its priority is to save customers money.

Neo Energy

Neo Energy was launched in early 2020 and is owned by Euston Energy.

It is the world’s first energy supplier to allow customers to pay with cryptocurrency. Customers can pay in pounds too and its tariffs have no exit fees.

It offered free electricity in June and July to customers who joined between 11 April and 30 April 2020. Some industry experts questioned the financial sustainability of the company for offering its customers free energy. Neo Energy’s CEO said ‘there are so many additional risks running an energy company and it’s just another one.’

Neon Reef

Neon Reef currently sells one fixed tariff with exit fees. Customers pay by direct debit.

Customers can manage their account via app, online account and email. It doesn't provide paper bills and doesn't have a phone line. 

Neon Reef is based in Poole and donates to charity Shark Trust when customers sign up to its Reef One tariff.

Northumbria Energy

Northumbria Energy says it provides ‘first class customer service’ and guaranteed savings on your electricity bill.

Like Neo Energy, it is owned by Euston Energy. In March 2020, energy regulator Ofgem banned it from taking on new customers until it was able to use the wireless network for smart meters (called the DCC). The ban was lifted in May 2020 after it became a DCC user.

Omni Energy

This newcomer says it 'makes prepayment and PAYG energy better'. It offers one tariff, which you manage via a smartphone app.

Yorkshire based Omni Energy says it sells only renewable electricity.

Orbit Energy

Orbit Energy promises customers 'stress-free' energy. Shell supplies its electricity and gas, which it says means it can offer ‘secure, competitively priced’ energy.

It sells fixed and variable tariffs, including one which is always 5% cheaper than the government's price cap.

Customers must manage their account online.

In March 2021 energy regulator Ofgem revealed that Orbit Energy is paying 723 of its customers an average of £9.79 each after overcharging them when they switched supplier or tariff between 2013 and 2020. It was one of 18 energy firms found by regulator Ofgem to have failed to uphold these rules. Over 1 million customers were affected overall.

PFP Energy

PFP Energy launched in 2015 and says it makes energy simple, offering one fixed, one variable gas and electricity tariff and a prepayment tariff. It isn't fitting smart meters yet - it says they're 'coming soon'.

Originally PFP was a not-for-profit supplier but split from its partner Places for People, which manages leisure centres and homes, in 2016. It was last included in the Which? survey in 2018.

PFP Energy is paying over 5,000 of its customers an average of £9.52 each after overcharging them when they switched tariff or supplier between 2013 and 2020. In total 18 energy firms were found by regulator Ofgem to have failed to uphold these rules and affected 1 million customers.

Don't put up with high energy bills and poor customer service. Use Which? Switch to find the cheapest gas and electricity.

Powershop

You can't join Powershop any more. Powershop's customers have moved to Eon Next, the newest part of big supplier Eon. 

Originally, Powershop was a New Zealand electricity firm which launched in the UK in 2017 with the backing of Npower. It sold energy in 'powerpacks', discounted bundles of set amounts of gas or electricity that customers buy in advance. The idea was that you could save money, compared with the usual unit rate, by buying upfront.

Qwest Energy

Qwest Energy is part of Octopus Energy and says it reinvests some of its profits in local community projects.

When it launched in 2018, Qwest Energy was a partnership between Engie and Cheshire West and Chester Council. Octopus Energy bought Engie in January 2020.

Roar Power

Roar Power provides gas and electricity to homes in Norwich and the east of England and is part of Octopus Energy

Originally it was a partnership between Norwich City Council and Engie, which was bought by Octopus Energy in January 2020.

It reinvests some of its profits in local community projects.

If you want to switch, following our quick guide to energy switching.

Square1 Energy

Worcestershire-based Square1 Energy says that all of its prices are fixed rates, meaning that they will stay the same throughout your contract. 

To speak to Square1 Energy, you'll need to book a call-back.

Symbio Energy

This new supplier claimed (in January 2021) to be the lowest-priced electricity provider. Customers pay by direct debit only and Symbio Energy takes payment in advance. You have to manage your online account online.

In May 2021 energy regulator Ofgem fined Symbio Energy £100,000 for making late payments into government renewables schemes.

Together Energy

Together Energy claims to be Scotland's fastest-growing energy company. Set up in 2016, it now has more than 60,000 customers.

It's based in Dunbartonshire and says it recruits more than 90% of its staff from the poorest 10% of postcodes in Scotland.

In 2020 it bought Bristol Energy's customers for £14m.

Previously it has had a ranking in the annual Which? energy survey results. We were unable to gather feedback from enough customers this year to give it a score. It was included in our snapshot customer waiting times investigation though, where it was the fastest firm to answer the phone to us. It took just 51 seconds on average to speak to a person.

Yorkshire Energy

This Leeds-based supplier launched in May 2018 but stopped trading on 2nd December 2020.

If you're one of its 74,000 customers, you were moved to Scottish Power on 6th December 2020. Energy regulator Ofgem chose Scottish Power in a competitive process and says it is offering customers a 'competitive tariff'.

If you were a Yorkshire Energy customer, Scottish Power should have contacted you and your account should be fully set up 'over the coming weeks', according to Ofgem. When you have heard from Scottish Power you can switch, if you wish. You won't be charged exit fees. Find out what customers think of Scottish Power.

Use Which? Switch to find the best gas and electricity deal for you.

If you were in credit to Yorkshire Energy, your balance will be protected. If Yorkshire Energy owed you money, even if you switched to another supplier, Scottish Power will honour this.

If you were in debt to Yorkshire Energy, either Scottish Power or Yorkshire Energy's administrators will contact you.

Know your rights when your energy supplier goes bust.

Zebra Power

Zebra Power is a British-owned energy firm that launched in the spring of 2017. It says it aims to offer fair prices, friendly customer service, and offers several fixed and variable tariffs, some of which have exit fees.

Zog Energy

Only providing gas, Zog Energy offers five tariffs, each of which has a different standing charge and unit rate. Some of them have exit fees of up to £30.

Want to save money on your energy bills? Use our independent switching site, Which? Switch, to find the cheapest energy deal.