Eversmart Energy Ltd - Notice of revocation of an electricity supply licence

Licence revocation

Publication date

Company

Industry sector

Supply and Retail Market

Licence type

Electricity Supply Licence

NOTICE OF REVOCATION OF A LICENCE PURSUANT TO SECTION 6 OF THE ELECTRICITY ACT 1989 WITH REASONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 49A Date: 9 September 2019

Notice of Revocation and Reasons for Decision

Whereas

1.  Eversmart Energy Ltd (company registration number 09310427), having its registered office at Unit 10 Empress Buisness Park, 380 Chester Road, Manchester, M16 9EA
  (“Eversmart”), is the holder of an Electricity Supply Licence (the “Licence”) granted or treated as granted under Section 6(1)(d) of the Electricity Act 1989 (the “Act”).
 
2.  Section 6(8) of the Act provides that a licence granted or treated as granted under the Act may be revoked in accordance with any term contained in it.

3.  Schedule 2(1)(f)(i) to the Licence provides that the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority (the “Authority”) may at any time revoke the Licence on giving not less than 24 hours’ notice where it is unable to pay its debts (within the meaning of section 123(1) or (2) of the Insolvency Act 1986).

4.  On 6 September 2019, the Authority made an application to the Chancery Division of the High Court (the “Court”) under Part 8 of the Civil Procedure Rules for a declaration to the effect that:

4.1.  Eversmart is unable to pay its debts (within the meaning of section 123(1)(e) and/or (2) of the Insolvency Act 1986); and

4.2.  therefore the condition, as set out in Schedule 2(1)(f)(i) of the Licence is satisfied.

5.  On 9 September 2019, the Court issued an order making a declaration to the effect set out in paragraph 4 above and, therefore, the Authority is satisfied that Schedule 2(1)(f)(i) of the Licence applies.

8.  For the following reasons, the Authority has decided that, in order to protect the interests of consumers, it is appropriate to give notice to revoke the Licence (with effect from 00:01 on 11 September 2019) in accordance with Schedule 2(1)(f)(i) of the Licence:

a.  given that Eversmart is unable to pay its debts, the Authority is not satisfied that the company will be able to continue to provide or otherwise procure the services necessary for supplying electricity to its customers or to pay charges under the industry arrangements;

b.  the Authority has decided to initiate the process to appoint a supplier of last resort (“SoLR”) pursuant to its powers under condition 8 of the Standard Conditions for Electricity Supply, in order to ensure continuity of supplies of electricity to Eversmart’s customers, and payment of appropriate charges from the date on which the SoLR direction takes effect; and

c.  the revocation of the Licence would ultimately be necessary for SoLR arrangements to come into effect.

Therefore

6.  The Authority hereby gives notice that, unless the Authority otherwise directs, with effect from 00:01 on 11 September 2019, the Licence shall be revoked.

The Official seal of the Gas and Electricity

Markets Authority here

affixed is authenticated by –
 
Lesley Nugent

Authorised in that behalf by the Authority