SO Energy is a UK based renewable energy supplier. Launched in November 2015 with the stated principals of "simplicity, honesty and great value", it has grown steadily to become a medium sized energy supplier focussed on renewable energy. Today, the group’s stated mission is to “help customers achieve net zero by providing great value renewable energy solutions with simple, clear, outstanding service”.
But who are SO Energy? What do they do and what do they stand for? Are their tariffs renewable and price competitive? And what about their customer service ratings? In this article we’ll aim to answer those questions and more.
Firstly, how do you contact SO Energy if you have a customer services query or want to make a complaint. There are 3 ways in which you can do this.
Via chat
This is probably the easiest way. Use the Chat with Us link on their online Help Centre.
Chat is available Monday to Friday: 9am - 5pm
By phone
0330 111 5050
Monday to Friday: 9am - 5pm
By message
Use the online form on their contact us page.
This is mainly targeted at existing customers, but you can submit a query without entering an account number. The service operates Monday to Friday: 9am - 5pm
For complaints you can use any of the communication channels mentioned above.
The list, and cost, of all current SO Energy tariffs is shown in the Table below.
| Tariff Name | Electricity Unit Price | Electricity Standing Charge | Gas Unit Price | Gas Standing Charge |
|---|
For comparison purposes, energy prices shown above are based on the London region ONLY. Prices may vary depending on the region you live in. To see the best deals for where you are, run a comparison using our Ofgem approved energy comparison service.
In keeping with one of its original founding principles, simplicity, SO Energy does have a very simple tariff offering. Indeed, it currently offers just 2 tariffs.
Its standard variable tariff is called So Flex and is available for customers paying either by monthly direct debit or quarterly on receipt of bill.
In addition, SO Energy offer a 1 year fixed tariff which comes with an exit penalty. In the past, they have also dabbled with 2 year fixed tariffs from time to time and, we suspect, may do so in the future. All electricity tariffs are backed by 100% renewable electricity.
It is worth pointing out that SO Energy does not supply prepayment meter customers and indeed, has never done so.
SO Energy was founded in 2015 by school friends Simon Oscroft and Charlie Davies, with a clear vision of building an energy business centred around renewable energy. Their founding principals were to create a company based on "simplicity, honesty and great value."
The company grew steadily, if not spectacularly and, in the 6 years to 2022, acquired 220,000 customer accounts organically. That is, without building a customer base by acquiring other energy suppliers.
However, the energy crisis of 2021-2022 posed significant challenges for the company. Unable to pass on sharply higher energy costs because of the energy price cap, SO Energy reported an operating loss of £151m for the year ended 31 March 2022. Yet, amidst this adversity, the company made a bold and pre-emptive move that would secure its future.
In August 2021, SO Energy merged its operating assets with ESB Energy in a transaction that effectively ceded control of the combined group to Electricity Supply Board of Ireland. However, this strategic partnership secured the company’s future in what was a hugely uncertain environment, preserved the SO Energy brand, and enabled the company to continue its mission of reducing carbon footprints.
Today, with 320,000 customers* and backing from a multi-billion-pound energy giant, SO Energy is the 10th largest energy supplier in the UK, holding 1.1% of the UK domestic electricity market and 1.2% of the UK domestic gas market (as of Q3 2023).
Looking ahead, SO Energy is geared up for further expansion. Beyond energy supply, the company aims to offer solar panels and battery installation services, with the aim of helping its customers generate and store their own electricity, thereby reducing their carbon footprints. Operationally, it is targeting best-in-class customer service coupled with operational efficiency, in order to deliver those sustainable energy solutions at the lowest possible cost.
All in all, SO Energy has done extremely well to come out the energy crisis not just in one piece, but bigger, stronger and re-invigorated. Furthermore, throughout its journey, it has remained steadfast in its commitment to renewable energy. Since 2017, 100% of the electricity sold to its customers has been generated from renewables. This contrasts with many of its competitors who talk a good story, but ultimately waver from the path when times get tough. And in an industry beset with operational issues, SO Energy has managed to avoid any significant regulatory penalties or interventions. Apart from this minor one.
You certainly have to applaud SO Energy’s resilience and dedication. We wish them well.
* Of these, 100,000 were purchased from ESB Energy as part of the 2021 merger deal.
SO Energy have a current rating of 4 out of 5 on Trust Pilot. Below are some of their customers' reviews.
All businesses get bad reviews from time to time but it is good to see that SO Energy are actively responding to negative feedback and where possible, still trying to help the customer.
SO Energy, like many energy start-ups, began life as an independent energy supplier looking to change and simplify the energy market. Initially funded by its founders, school friends Simon Oscroft and Charlie Davies, together with friends and family, it then took on investment from private equity and industry group CFP Energy Limited to pursue its dream of building an energy company centred on renewable energy and helping customers reduce their environmental impact.
However, the significant market and financial challenges posed by the energy crisis, essentially forced SO Energy to merge its business interests with another UK energy supplier, ESB Energy, in August 2021. Although that route allowed it to survive the crisis that killed off over 20 of its competitors, and to keep its brand identity, it necessarily resulted in SO Energy giving up its independence and becoming part of a larger integrated electricity group.
Today, SO Energy is ultimately owned by multi-billion pound Irish energy giant, ESB (aka Electricity Supply Board), the company that dominates the Irish energy markets with a 40% share of the electricity supply market and a 24% share of the gas supply market. ESB is, in turn, majority-owned by the Irish Government (96.9%) with the remaining 3.1% held by employees (via the trustees of an Employee Share Ownership Plan).
In between the operating company, SO Energy Trading Limited, and the ultimate parent company, sit 3 holding companies;
The co-founders, Simon and Charlie retain a minority stake of 10%, in ESB Retail GB Limited, between them. In addition, they hold board and senior executive positions at SO Energy with Simon as Interim CEO and Charlie as Interim COO. Furthermore, their interest in deferred shares means that, subject to performance conditions which are not publicly disclosed, they have the ability to rebuild their combined holding to 24%. As such, they have strong incentives to continue with original their mission. We wish them luck.
Any electricity that we use is generated from a combination of different primary fuels such as gas, nuclear, coal and renewable sources (wind, hydro and the sun). Energy suppliers buy the electricity that they sell to you from energy generators. Generators in turn produce that electricity from different primary fuel sources. The proportion of each primary fuel bought and sold by the energy supplier makes up that supplier’s fuel mix.
Shown below is the SO Energy fuel mix for the period April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023 compared to the GB average.
True to its aspiration of being a renewable energy supplier, SO Energy purchases it electricity solely from renewable energy sources.
| Fuel | Electricity supplied by SO Energy | Average for GB |
|---|---|---|
| Coal | 0.0% | 3.4% |
| Natural Gas | 0.0% | 39.3% |
| Nuclear | 0.0% | 13.9% |
| Renewables | 100.0% | 40.8% |
| Other | 0.0% | 2.6% |
| Total | 100% | 100% |
| CO2 emissions (g/kWh) | 0 | 199 |
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