Yes. If a business owes an energy supplier money and the debt remains unpaid, the supplier can potentially use normal debt-recovery procedures, including making a court claim.
In England and Wales, a creditor can apply to the County Court to recover money owed by a person or business. If the creditor obtains a judgment and the debt is still not paid, further enforcement action may be available.
Energy suppliers may also have contractual rights relating to debt recovery and, in some circumstances, disconnection of a non-domestic supply. Ofgem has published good-practice guidance encouraging suppliers to communicate clearly with businesses in payment difficulty, consider appropriate repayment arrangements and make their debt and disconnection processes transparent.
A business that is struggling to pay should contact the supplier as early as possible rather than ignoring bills or collection notices. Depending on the circumstances, the supplier may agree a revised payment plan, additional time to pay or another arrangement that prevents the debt escalating.
