What’s in this guide?
Introduction
Have you ever wondered which energy suppliers are British businesses?
Many of the famous household names we know today like EDF and nPower have their roots in Europe rather than a British company.
This guide will tell you everything you need to know about the origins of the major ‘big six’ energy companies. This includes who owns them now and which independent energy suppliers are ultimately British businesses.
The Big Six
Did you know that only two of the big six suppliers are owned by British companies?
Can you guess which ones?
Take a look below and find out if you were right.
British Gas
British Gas is a company with historical roots in the whole of Britain and the world, with a long history that stretches all the way back to the 1800’s and yes, it is British-owned as the name suggests.
Centrica ultimately owns it, which is a utility company in Berkshire, UK.
SSE
SSE is the result of a merger between several companies named Southern Electric and Scottish Hydro Electric, which also includes the brands SSE Atlantic, SSE SWALEC, SSE Southern Electric and SSE Hydro Electric.
The SSE headquarters are located in Perth, Scotland.
EDF
EDF stood for Electricite de France and was when the French energy company bought London Energy.
Not only is it one of the UK’s most extensive distribution networks after taking over British Energy, however, but the French state also owns the company.
nPower
nPower is owned by Innogy SE, which is owned by German company RWE, which is huge incorporation of Germany’s largest energy suppliers.
It was bought in 2002, previously National Power, but are now part of Eon.
This was consequently named nPower, also having purchased Calortex, Independent Energy and Midlands Electricity.
Eon
German-owned Eon, which is a merger of two large energy companies, bought UK Powergen in 2002. Although, it was only in 2007 that they became Eon.
Its headquarters are located in Dusseldorf, Germany.
Scottish Power
Although the company is named Scottish Power and it has been around since the 1990’s, Scottish Power is a subsidiary of Spanish company Iberdrola since they took over in 2006.
They have a headquarters in Bilbao, and one in Glasgow.
Independent Energy Companies
So now that you know which of the big six energy companies are owned by British companies what about the smaller independent suppliers?
They have been disrupting the energy industry with their excellent customer service and costs, are they British too?
Octopus Energy
Founded by Cambridge graduate Greg Jackson, Octopus Energy is a new breed of an energy company. They have been consistently given 5-stars for customer service, and value for money.
As a result, Octopus Energy has not only taken over the customers of Iresa Energy which recently went out of business. They have also partnered up with M&S Energy so their customers can receive service from this exceptional new supplier.
So Energy
With their headquarters in London, So Energy is a British energy company. They offer their customers 100% renewable energy at an affordable price, claiming to give their customers exceptional customer service.
In the Which? Survey, So Energy ranked joint 9th with Ecotricity, which is higher than any of the of the ‘big six’ energy suppliers.
Tonik Energy
Tonik is a newer company, entering the market in 2016. They offer their customers 100% renewable energy, 10% renewable gas to offset your carbon footprint.
Furthermore, Tonik is a British company that has a mission to bring new technology into the market and energy storage solutions.
Affect Energy
Affect Energy is based near to Brighton on the south coast. They have a team with over 50 years of experience with one of the more significant energy suppliers. This means that they aren’t entirely new to the energy industry.
Affect has a straightforward mission; give people energy at an affordable price, and honest service. Simple, right?
First Utility
First Utility is a UK supplier that focuses on multiple utilities. Providing everything you need for your home so sorting out your services will be painless, straightforward and excellent value for money for everyone.
Although it is a part of Shell, which is a British-Dutch multinational gas company, it could still be seen as a British company.
Top Energy Companies
| Company | Bulb | So Energy | Affect | First Utility |
| Overall Trustpilot Score | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ |
| Discounts | No | No | £15.75 per fuel per year | £15 per fuel by paying by debit card |
| The average cost for dual fuel three bedrooms home | £82 | £78 | £90.00 | £91 |
| Positive Reviews on Trustpilot | 92% Positive | 86% Positive | 86% Positive | 46% Positive |
Conclusion
Finally, if you’re looking for a great way to save on your business energy, you can use our comparison tool which allows you to find multiple quotes at once.
Or take a look at the Energy Seek guides to find out more about your energy.