Nabuh Energy gone bust. Customers Transferred to British Gas.

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Nabuh Energy aimed to bring balance to the market, with variable and fixed-rate tariffs exclusively for customers with prepayment meters. Unfortunately, following the Energy crisis, Nabuh were forced out of business. In this article, we will outline what happened to the company and what happened to the customers at the company.
Last update: November 2022

Will your bills go up at British Gas?

Being the largest supplier of energy, British gas offers a wide range of plans and tariffs.

British Gas average annual total tariff costs

Down below we give an overview of the average annual total costs of British Gas’s most popular tariffs. These costs are assuming the household has a standard meter and are listed as dual fuel bundles. However, both gas and electricity can be bought for individual rates as well!

British Gas tariffs

Most popular British Gas tariffs

Below you can find the cost information associated with these tariffs.


Plan name Tariff type Is the tariff live? Average electricity annual cost (£/year) Average gas annual cost (£/year) Average total annual cost (£/year) Exit fees (£/fuel) Green tariff**
Standard Variable £ 1,274.92* £ 1,481.07* £ 2,755.99* £ 75.00 ✖️
/ Fixed - 12 months £ 1,274.92* £ 1,481.07* £ 2,755.99* £ 75.00 ✖️
/ Fixed - 24 months £ 1,087.49* £ 1,481.07* £ 2,568.56* £ 75.00 ✖️
/ Green - Fixed 12 £ 1,298.93* £ 1,505.09* £ 2,804.02* £ 75.00 ✔️
/ Green - Fixed 24 £ 1,298.93* £ 1,505.09* £ 2,804.02* £ 75.00 ✔️
/ Prepayment Variable £ 1,298.93* £ 1,505.09* £ 2,804.02* £ 75.00 ✖️

* Prices displayed are national averages
* Based on Ofgem’s TDCV (2,900.00 kWh of ⚡ and 12,000.00 kWh of 🔥 per year).
** A tariff is green if for each kWh consumed a kWh of renewable energy is injected in the grid.
Rates are inclusive of VAT at 5%.


British Gas Variable Rate Tariffs

British Gas currently only offers one variable tariff, and that is the standard variable tariff. This means, as mentioned above, that prices on this tariff can rise or fall almost daily to match the ongoing cost of energy in the UK. This variable tariff is less stable because prices can rise or fall frequently, but there are no contract or exit fees, so customers can change their tariff plan at any time without penalty.

The costs associated with this tariff can be seen here:


Plan name Tariff type Type of fuel Is the tariff live? Standing charge (p/day) Unit rate cost (p/kWh) Average total annual cost (£/year) Exit cost (£/fuel) Green tariff**
Standard Variable Electricity 42.01 p* 38.67 p* £ 1,274.92* £ 75.00 ✖️
/ Standard Variable Gas 31.85 p* 11.37 p* £ 1,481.07* £ 75.00 ✖️

* Prices displayed are national averages
* Based on Ofgem’s TDCV (2,900.00 kWh of ⚡ and 12,000.00 kWh of 🔥 per year).
** A tariff is green if for each kWh consumed a kWh of renewable energy is injected in the grid.
Rates are inclusive of VAT at 5%.


British Gas Fixed Rate Tariffs

British Gas currently offers 4 different fixed line tariffs, all uniquely differentiated to meet the needs of as many different customers as possible.

The prices for these tariffs can be viewed here:


Plan name Tariff type Type of fuel Is the tariff live? Standing charge (p/day) Unit rate cost (p/kWh) Average total annual cost (£/year) Exit cost (£/fuel) Green tariff**
/ Fixed - 12 months Electricity 42.01 p* 38.67 p* £ 1,274.92* £ 75.00 ✖️
/ Fixed - 24 months Electricity 42.01 p* 32.21 p* £ 1,087.49* £ 75.00 ✖️
/ Green - Fixed 12 Electricity 48.59 p* 38.67 p* £ 1,298.93* £ 75.00 ✔️
/ Green - Fixed 24 Electricity 48.59 p* 38.67 p* £ 1,298.93* £ 75.00 ✔️
/ Fixed - 12 months Gas 31.85 p* 11.37 p* £ 1,481.07* £ 75.00 ✖️
/ Fixed - 24 months Gas 31.85 p* 11.37 p* £ 1,481.07* £ 75.00 ✖️
/ Green - Fixed 12 Gas 38.42 p* 11.37 p* £ 1,505.09* £ 75.00 ✔️
/ Green - Fixed 24 Gas 38.42 p* 11.37 p* £ 1,505.09* £ 75.00 ✔️

* Prices displayed are national averages
* Based on Ofgem’s TDCV (2,900.00 kWh of ⚡ and 12,000.00 kWh of 🔥 per year).
** A tariff is green if for each kWh consumed a kWh of renewable energy is injected in the grid.
Rates are inclusive of VAT at 5%.


British Gas Prepaid Tariffs

In addition to the variable and fixed tariffs, British Gas also offers a prepaid tariff where you can top up as much energy as you want to pay for. The unit prices for this tariff plan, similar to the variable tariffs, are not fixed, so the cost of this tariff can increase or decrease if the cost of energy in the UK increases or decreases.

Costs associated with this tariff plan can be found here:


Plan name Tariff type Type of fuel Is the tariff live? Standing charge (p/day) Unit rate cost (p/kWh) Average total annual cost (£/year) Exit cost (£/fuel) Green tariff**
/ Prepayment Variable Electricity 48.59 p* 38.67 p* £ 1,298.93* £ 75.00 ✖️
/ Prepayment Variable Gas 38.42 p* 11.37 p* £ 1,505.09* £ 75.00 ✖️

* Prices displayed are national averages
* Based on Ofgem’s TDCV (2,900.00 kWh of ⚡ and 12,000.00 kWh of 🔥 per year).
** A tariff is green if for each kWh consumed a kWh of renewable energy is injected in the grid.
Rates are inclusive of VAT at 5%.


British Gas Economy 7 Tariffs

Also referred to as double electricity by some, British Gas offers several E7 tariff plans to accommodate customers that have economy 7 meters in their homes.

As mentioned previously, these tariffs have two separate unit rates, one for peak hours of consumption and another for off-peak.

Pricing on these tariffs can be seen here:


Plan name Tariff type Type of fuel Is the tariff live? Standing charge (p/day) Day Rate (p/kWh)* Night Rate (p/kWh)p* Average total annual cost (£/year) Exit cost (£/fuel) Green tariff**
/ Economy 7 - Standard Variable Economy 7 27.48 p* 22.42 p* 13.28 p* £ 639.30* £ 0.00 ✖️
/ Economy 7 - Fixed 12 months Economy 7 30.78 p* 24.05 p* 12.41 p* £ 668.02* £ 40.00 ✖️
/ Economy 7 - Fixed 24 months Economy 7 32.96 p* 37.52 p* 17.65 p* £ 966.40* £ 50.00 ✖️
/ Economy 7 - Green fixed 12 Economy 7 33.00 p* 37.52 p* 17.65 p* £ 966.55* £ 50.00 ✔️
/ Economy 7 - Green fixed 24 Economy 7 37.89 p* 37.52 p* 17.65 p* £ 984.41* £ 50.00 ✔️
/ Economy 7 - Prepayment Economy 7 37.89 p* 37.52 p* 17.65 p* £ 984.41* £ 50.00 ✖️

* Prices displayed are national averages
* Based on Ofgem’s TDCV (2,900.00 kWh of ⚡ and 12,000.00 kWh of 🔥 per year).
* Assuming the average Economy 7 tariff user consumes around 58% of his energy on peak and 42% off peak.
** A tariff is green if for each kWh consumed a kWh of renewable energy is injected in the grid.


Can I switch suppliers right now?

You can switch suppliers but in the light of the energy crisis and the Ukraine war putting extra pressure on gas prices, it is not the best time to switch.

Do I have to stay with British Gas?

If you want you can search for a different supplier. However, as mentioned before, the energy crisis and ukraine conflict has put huge pressure on energy companies. F

Who were Nabuh Energy?

Nabuh Energy were a Sheffield-based independent energy supplier with a clear focus on customers with prepayment meters. Billing themselves as “The energy company with a big heart”, they claimed to offer the cheapest prepayment tariff in the UK, as well as claiming to put customers and partners first. They had a referral scheme that rewarded customers with £20 when they referred a friend or family member to their service. The friend or family member also got £20, too!

Nabuh Energy’s website stated that they were firmly on the side of energy consumers with prepayment meters who had gotten a raw deal from other suppliers. “Having observed the way prepayment customers were treated,” their website stated, “we decided things needed to change. That’s why they provided customers with energy that is low-cost and hassle-free.”

Sounds great!

But did Nabuh Energy’s service match their claims? Let’s take a closer look to see how they performed in all the areas that matter most to energy consumers.

Nabuh Energy claimed to be the cheapest prepayment provider in Yorkshire, a claim that has been independently confirmed. And while their deals were certainly better for prepayment customers, they were also pretty competitive when it came to direct debit tariffs too.

Disappointingly, while they offered good value for PAYG energy consumers, Nabuh Energy may not have been the best choice for the eco-conscious. Although there were some renewables present in their energy mix, the majority of their fuel mix (some 72%) came from natural gas. While this is certainly cleaner than burning coal or oil, it has far more environmental impact than renewables such as wind, solar and hydroelectricity.

The full breakdown of their energy mix was as follows:

  • Natural gas- 72%
  • Coal- 6.3%
  • Nuclear- 8.2%
  • Renewables- 8.3%
  • Other- 5.2%

A disappointing energy mix for many green energy consumers.

Were Nabuh Energy any good? What their customers say

Nabuh Energy’s website and marketing placed them squarely on the side of PAYG energy consumers. But what dud their customers say about them?
 

More info


Unfortunately, when it came to customer sentiment, Nabuh Energy’s performance was ranked pretty low. In the Citizens Advice chart, Nabuh Energy was ranked at 32 out of 38 with a total customer score of 2.9 out of 5. However, this was a significant improvement from December 2020 when they were in position 39 out of 40 with a customer score of just 1.9 out of 5.

Nabuh Energy customer reviews

When we look at the Nabuh Energy customer reviews on their Trustpilot page, we can see that they fared a little worse on the platform than they did in the Citizens Advice rankings with an overall customer score of 1.6 out of 5.

The brand had just 358 customer reviews, indicating that there was plenty of scope for them to turn things around. Of these 358 reviews:

  • 31 (9%) were “Excellent”
  • 12 (3%) were “Great”
  • 10 (3%) were “Average”
  • 10 (3%) were “Poor”
  • 294 (82%) were “Bad”

Areas commonly praised in positive reviews included good value for money, helpful staff, fast responses and ease of topping up. The name of one team member in particular kept popping up in the customer reviews, and one reviewer was quick to point out that it may be unreasonable to expect a small local supplier to have the same customer service resources as the larger suppliers.

Negative reviews focused on long waiting times, slow responses to issues and complaints and difficulties when Nabuh took over customers from failed supplier Avid. Most negative reviews, however, focused on technical problems and difficulty topping up.

Nabuh Energy fuel mix

How to contact Nabuh Energy about the switch to British Gas

There are a number of ways in which customers can get in touch with Nabuh Energy. Their customer service number is 0330 041 4902, and this number is manned from 9am-8pm Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm over the weekend. Although they claim to answer the phone within 30 seconds, an independent investigation last year revealed wait times of around 5 minutes.

Their website’s contact page also has a live chat function. Alternatively, if your query is less urgent, you can email customerservice@nabuhenergy.co.uk.

Topping up with Nabuh Energy

You can top up your account at any Pay Point location. You can also top up over the phone or online. There’s also an app for prepay customers that enables them to top up wherever they are. However, some customers on Trustpilot report difficulties using the app.

Friendly credit and emergency credit are available to those who have difficulties topping up within normal working hours.

Thinking of switching to Nabuh Energy? We’re here to help!

If you want to switch after being transferred to British Gas call us today on 0330 540 017 to find out more. We’re available from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm.

Looking to compare energy suppliers?Leave your phone number to request a call back from us!

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FAQ

Was Nabuh Energy cheap?

Nabuh Energy’s “Grace” prepaid tariff was confirmed to be the cheapest Pay As You Go tariff in Yorkshire. A claim that has been independently verified. While your costs will depend on your area and usage, their prepayment tariffs were generally speaking some of the best value on the market. Even their direct debit tariffs were fairly competitive.

Who were Nabuh Energy?

The CEO of Nabuh Energy was Klaus Bach. Bach was a shareholder of Juhl Bach Holding, one of the biggest family-owned private companies in Denmark.

How many customers did Nabuh Energy have?

Frustratingly, Nabuh Energy did not post information on how many customers they had. However, in their blog, they reported significant growth since they began trading in 2018. They state that the number of supplied meters had increased by 300% while their employee base had grown by 200%.

Did Nabuh Energy offer smart meters?

Yes, Nabuh Energy offered smart meters on their “Mel” tariff. What’s more, they offered and supported the second generation SMETS 2 meters. Meaning that your smart meter will still function as a smart meter if you switch suppliers in the future. Something that cannot be said for the previous generation of meters.

Updated on 29 Jan, 2024

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