Failed energy supplier Toto Energy was subject to more than 700 complaints so far this year, almost the same as for the whole of 2018.
The supplier, which ceased trading yesterday (23 October), was subject to 730 complaints to the Energy Ombudsman – compared to the 794 it received during the whole of last year.
Matthew Vickers, chief executive at the Energy Ombudsman, said the collapse of the Brighton-based supplier meant it is unlikely the organisation will be able to help consumers who had complained about the company.
Vickers said: “As of today we can’t look at any new complaints about Toto.
“The proposals set out by Ofgem earlier this week contained lots of positives that will help to reduce the risk of supplier failures in future, but some customers with unresolved complaints are still going to be left without redress or remedy. We think this needs to be looked at.
“For customers who were previously with Solarplicity and were transferred to Toto before Solarplicity collapsed, this will have been a particularly confusing and frustrating experience.”
Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said: “Toto Energy is now the 14th domestic energy supplier to collapse in the last two years. We will all end up paying for the failure of energy suppliers as costs get passed down onto our energy bills.
“While measures announced by Ofgem will go some way to limiting the costs left behind when firms collapse, more action is needed.
“Toto Energy leaves behind £4.6 million in unpaid bills for renewable energy development. Government should legislate to require suppliers to make these payments more regularly and stop firms being able to build up such sizeable debts.”
Toto acquired the majority of Solarplicity’s customers in July this year. Solarplicity also exited the market a few months ago.
Toto is the eighth supplier of 2019 to collapse and follows Economy Energy, Our Power, Brilliant Energy, Cardiff Energy Supply, Solarplicity, Eversmart Energy and Rutherford Energy.