The boss of British Gas’s owner yesterday warned another big supplier could go bust this winter.
Chris O’Shea, chief executive of Centrica, said a warm autumn and winter were piling pressure on weaker competitors.
He said: “Every day they lose money, they become riskier and the more likely we’ll see the failure of a major energy supplier.”
Households were left picking the tab for the collapse of nearly 30 suppliers after wholesale gas prices soared when Russia invaded Ukraine.
The failures added £94 to every household’s bill.
Speaking to the Mirror, Mr O’Shea added: “The poorest in society pay £94 and the richest in society pay the same £94. It’s an outrage.”
The figure does not include the collapse of Bulb, which was rescued by taxpayers at an estimated cost of £6.5billion.
Mr O’Shea added: “If the reported numbers for Bulb are right, it would be the best part of £250
per household.”
Further failures could increase bills.
But Centrica celebrated yesterday as the first gas for five years flowed from a vast facility below the North Sea into pipes supplying UK homes.
The amount of gas stored in the UK has risen from six days’ worth to nine, but it is still the lowest in Europe.
In February this year, Mr O'Shea waived his £1.1m annual bonus, saying it "didn't feel right" as customers' bills were soaring.
But he still picked up £775,000 a year salary.
Mr O'Shea said Ofgem's decision not to force suppliers to ringfence customers' cash was "deeply flawed".
He also criticised a delay in requiring suppliers to build up capital to safeguard against a possible collapse.
The Rough facility is running at about a fifth of its full capacity.
Mr O'Shea said it would need around £1billion to boost storage levels so that the UK had 21 days worth of reserves, if no gas came from abroad.
The Government has already announced £150billion worth of help to limit energy bill hikes for millions of households this winter.
Britain currently has just nine days of gas stored - the lowest in Europe.
Germany has 89 days, France 103 and the Netherlands 123.
