British Gas is the largest retail electricity supplier in Great Britain. Despite a notable decline throughout the years, it still accounted for 20 percent of the market in 2023. E.ON followed closely, with a market share of 17 percent.
Changes in the Big Six
The electricity market in Great Britain has historically been controlled by a few providers, collectively known as the Big Six. These include British Gas, E.ON, SSE, EDF, Npower, and Scottish Power. However, recently, there have been significant changes in their composition. In January 2020, OVO Energy acquired SSE's electricity and gas distribution business, albeit continuing to sell energy under the SSE brand. Meanwhile, Npower was acquired by E.ON in 2019, turning the Big Six into a de-facto Big Five.
Growing competition in the British electricity supply market
In 2010, the Big Six held 100 percent of the domestic electricity supply market in GB. To promote a more competitive market, the British energy regulator, Ofgem, enacted a series of market reforms aimed at increasing access for smaller players. The past decade has seen a significant number of domestic customers switching from large electricity suppliers to small and mid-tier suppliers, causing the Big Six’s market share to dip to 70 percent in 2023.
Domestic electricity supply market shares of the Big Six energy companies in Great Britain from 1st quarter 2010 to 4th quarter 2023
* OVO Energy acquired the retail business segment of SSE in January 2020 and has been a Big Six energy supplier since. The source no longer lists SSE market shares as a result. ** Npower was acquired by E.ON UK in 2019, and as of 2022 operates under the E.ON name.
According to the source, market shares are determined by the share of meter points on the electricity distribution networks, and are provided by electricity distribution network operators.
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Ofgem. (April 15, 2024). Domestic electricity supply market shares of the Big Six energy companies in Great Britain from 1st quarter 2010 to 4th quarter 2023 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved October 12, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/862504/domestic-electricity-supply-market-shares-great-britain-gb/
Ofgem. "Domestic electricity supply market shares of the Big Six energy companies in Great Britain from 1st quarter 2010 to 4th quarter 2023." Chart. April 15, 2024. Statista. Accessed October 12, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/862504/domestic-electricity-supply-market-shares-great-britain-gb/
Ofgem. (2024). Domestic electricity supply market shares of the Big Six energy companies in Great Britain from 1st quarter 2010 to 4th quarter 2023. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: October 12, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/862504/domestic-electricity-supply-market-shares-great-britain-gb/
Ofgem. "Domestic Electricity Supply Market Shares of The Big Six Energy Companies in Great Britain from 1st Quarter 2010 to 4th Quarter 2023." Statista, Statista Inc., 15 Apr 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/862504/domestic-electricity-supply-market-shares-great-britain-gb/
Ofgem, Domestic electricity supply market shares of the Big Six energy companies in Great Britain from 1st quarter 2010 to 4th quarter 2023 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/862504/domestic-electricity-supply-market-shares-great-britain-gb/ (last visited October 12, 2024)
Domestic electricity supply market shares of the Big Six energy companies in Great Britain from 1st quarter 2010 to 4th quarter 2023 [Graph], Ofgem, April 15, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/862504/domestic-electricity-supply-market-shares-great-britain-gb/