Electricity and gas are essential services. Every small customer has a designated retailer that must offer to supply energy to their home or small business. For new connections such as when a new home is built it is the local area retailer, for existing connections it is the customer’s current retailer. The offer must include the option of the retailer's standing offer prices, and the terms and conditions under their standard retail contract. A designated retailer cannot refuse to sell energy to a small customer on the ground that the customer owes the retailer an outstanding amount.
This compliance check sets out the key obligations that make up a designated retailer’s obligation to offer supply.