Utilita Energy
{{Short description|British electricity company}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Utilita Energy
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| type = Private
| industry = Electricity and gas
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| founded = {{Start date and age|2003}} in the United Kingdom
| founder = Bill Bullen
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| hq_location_city = Eastleigh
| hq_location_country = United Kingdom
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| services = Pay-as-you-go metering
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| parent = Luxion Group
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| website = {{Official website|https://utilita.co.uk/}}
}}
Utilita Energy is an electricity and gas supplier operating in the United Kingdom. Utilita began trading in 2003, specialising in pay-as-you-go metering.
{{As of|January 2021|post=,}} Utilita had over 800,000 customers,{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://utilita.co.uk/about |access-date=5 November 2023 |website=Utilita Energy |language=en}} representing a 2.6% share in the domestic market. {{Cite web|url=https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/data-portal/electricity-supply-market-shares-company-domestic-gb|title=Electricity supply market shares by company: Domestic (GB)|date=2015-06-23|website=Ofgem|language=en-gb|access-date=2019-08-25}}
Company history
Utilita Energy began trading in 2003, as a challenger to the dominant "Big Six" energy suppliers. The company's founder and Chief Executive Officer is Bill Bullen. The company specialises in prepayment (pay-as-you-go) metering.
In 2005, Utilita became the first company in Great Britain to install a smart electricity meter in the residential sector, and in 2008 Utilita became the first to install a gas and electricity smart meter system.
By 2014, the company had 100,000 customers.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} In 2018, Utilita launched their energy management app, My Utilita.
In October 2020, Utilita agreed to pay £500,000 in compensation and refund the affected customers, after the company reported itself to industry regulator Ofgem. Almost 40,000 customers had been overcharged a total of £125,000 during 2019.{{Cite news|date=2020-10-29|title=Utilita: Energy firm to pay £500,000 for overcharging customers|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-54731032|access-date=2022-02-09}}
= Energy Hubs =
Utilita began a national rollout of high street Energy Hubs in 2018, allowing customers to top-up, check their account and get energy-saving advice in-store. As of October 2023, Utilita has Energy Hubs in Gosport, Southampton, Isle of Wight, Derby, West Bromwich, Edinburgh, Sheffield, Leicester, Derby and Hartlepool.{{Cite web|title=Energy Hub|url=https://utilita.co.uk/energy-hub|access-date=2021-01-29|website=Utilita Energy|language=en}}
Ownership
Utilita has a long-standing partnership with Secure Meters, an Indian supplier of smart meters. In 2017 it was reported that Secure Meters held roughly two-thirds of the company's shares, while Bill Bullen retained 20%.{{Cite web|last=Kleinman|first=Mark|date=2 August 2017|title=Energy supplier Utilita defies price cap with £120m sale|url=https://news.sky.com/story/energy-supplier-utilita-defies-price-cap-with-120m-sale-10970564|access-date=2022-02-09|website=Sky News|language=en}} The registered offices of Luxion Group (previously Utilita Group), Utilita Energy and Secure Meters (UK) Ltd are in Chandler's Ford, Hampshire.{{Cite web|title=Secure Meters (UK) Limited|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/02199653|access-date=9 February 2022|website=Companies House}}{{cite web|date=31 March 2020|title=Utility Energy Limited: annual accounts|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/04849181/filing-history/MzI5MzMyNDg3NmFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0|access-date=9 February 2022|website=Companies House|page=32}}{{Cite web |title=LUXION GROUP LIMITED |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/04847763 |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk |language=en}} Since December 2018, Bullen has had control of the group, although "a preferred supplier" has unexercised options giving it the potential to take control.
In addition to Utilita Energy, Luxion Group companies include Procode and Canary Care.{{Cite web |title=Technology, with integrity |url=https://www.luxion.group/ |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=Luxion Group |language=en-GB}} In 2024, Procode acquired Trust Power, developer of the Loop home energy efficiency app.{{Cite web |date=2 December 2024 |title=Procode Acquires Trust Power, Home of Loop App - Procode |url=https://procode.technology/blog/procode-acquires-trust-power-home-of-loop-app/ |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=Procode |language=en}} Trust Power was founded in 2016 by Roy Bedlow, a UK-based entrepreneur and founder of the renewable energy generation company Low Carbon.{{Cite web |title=LOW CARBON LIMITED |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/13356797 |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk |language=en}}
Sponsorships
Utilita is a longstanding sponsor of football clubs. The company was announced as the main shirt sponsor for Eastleigh F.C. (near Southampton) from the 2016–17 season, the biggest in the club's history. The sponsorship continued for a further four seasons.{{Cite web|date=5 January 2016|title=Spitfires celebrate six-figure sponsorship deal|url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/14183407.six-figure-sponsorship-deal-with-utilita-energy-is-the-biggest-in-spitfires-history/|access-date=2022-02-09|website=Daily Echo|language=en}}
In March 2018, Dundee United confirmed that Utilita would be their new shirt sponsor in a two-year deal from the 2018–19 season.{{Cite web|date=19 March 2018|title=United reveal Utilita as main partner for next two seasons|url=https://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/news/5566/UNITED-REVEAL-UTILITA-AS-MAIN-PARTNER-FOR-NEXT-TWO-SEASONS.html|access-date=2022-02-09|website=Dundee United Football Club|language=en}} A one-year extension was signed for the 2020–21 season.{{Cite web|date=5 July 2020|title=Utilita to energise front of shirts for 2020/21 season|url=https://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/news/6506/UTILITA-TO-ENERGISE-FRONT-OF-SHIRTS-FOR-202021-SEASON.html|access-date=2022-02-09|website=Dundee United Football Club|language=en}} The deal ended after that season but the company became the sleeve sponsor for the club for the 2021–22 season.
In 2019, Utilita was announced as the shirt sponsor for Bristol Rovers on a one-year deal,{{cite web|url=https://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/2019/july/utilita-energy/|title=Utilita Energy Announced as Front of Shirt Sponsor}} which was extended for the 2020–21 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/2020/june/utilita-partnership/|title=Utilita Partnership Extended}}
In July 2019, Utilita signed a deal with Scunthorpe United to become the shirt sponsor for the club for two seasons.{{cite web|url=https://www.scunthorpe-united.co.uk/news/2019/july/utilita-sponsorship/|title=Energy giants Utilita become Iron's front of shirt sponsor}}
In August 2020, Brentford announced that Utilita would be the shirt sponsor for the 2020–21 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2020/august/brentford-release-umbro-home-and-away-kits-for-202021-season-powered-by-utilita-energy/|title=Brentford Release New Umbro Replica Kits With Utilita As Shirt Sponsor}}
In March 2021, it was announced that Utilita would be the shirt sponsor for Huddersfield Town in a three-year deal starting with the 2021–22 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.htafc.com/news/2021/march/utilita-on-the-front-of-town-shirts-for-three-years/|title=Utilita On The Front Of Town Shirts for 3 years}} In June 2021, Hibernian announced a two–year shirt sponsorship from the 2021–22 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/article/a-new-era-a-new-principal-partner-welcome-utilita-energy|title=A new era, a new principal partner, welcome Utilita Energy}}
Utilia sponsored The Football Yearbook (originally known as Rothmans' Football Yearbook) from its 52nd year, the 2021–22 season. {{cite book | url=https://www.headline.co.uk/titles/none/the-utilita-football-yearbook-2021-2022/9781472288349/ | isbn=9781472288349 | title=The Utilita Football Yearbook 2021-2022 | date=19 February 2021 | author1=Headline }}
In February 2022, during the second half of the 2021–22 season, Luton Town announced that Utilita would become the main sponsor for the club, after having invested in the club since 2017. Utilita remain the club's main sponsor as of the 2023–24 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/sport/football/luton-town/hatters-announce-new-home-shirt-sponsor-as-utilita-energy-replace-jb-developments-3576357/|title=Hatters announce new home shirt sponsor as Utilita Energy replace JB Developments}}
They became the home shirt sponsors of Blackpool for the 2022–23 season.{{Cite web |last=FC |first=Blackpool |title=2022/23 Home Kit {{!}} On Sale At 10am On Friday 8 July |url=https://blackpoolfc.co.uk/news/2022/july/07/2022-23-home-kit---on-sale-at-10am-on-friday-8-july/ |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=Blackpool FC}}
= Arenas =
In January 2019, it was announced that the company had acquired the naming rights for Newcastle Arena.{{Cite web |last=Grace |first=Anna |date=2019-01-28 |title=Newcastle Arena becomes Utilita Arena |url=https://www.iq-mag.net/2019/01/newcastle-arena-becomes-utilita-arena/ |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=IQ Magazine |language=en-GB}} In January 2020, the company announced it had also acquired the naming rights for Arena Birmingham.{{Cite web |last=NewsEditor |date=2020-01-17 |title=Utilita builds naming rights portfolio with Arena Birmingham deal |url=https://www.thestadiumbusiness.com/2020/01/17/utilita-builds-naming-rights-portfolio-arena-birmingham-deal/ |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=The Stadium Business |language=en-GB}} In September 2021, the company announced it had acquired the naming rights for Sheffield Arena.{{Cite web |title=Sheffield City Trust |url=https://www.sheffieldcitytrust.org/news/utilita-announced-as-new-arena-naming-rights-partner |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=www.sheffieldcitytrust.org}} In August 2023, the company would add Cardiff International Arena to its naming rights portfolio.{{Cite web |last=Ahmed |first=Reem |date=2023-08-23 |title=Cardiff International Arena has changed its name again |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/cardiff-international-arena-changed-name-27578568 |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=Wales Online |language=en}}
The company also has the Utllita Bowl near Southampton (Utilita's head office).{{Cite web |last=Dixon |first=Ed |date=2024-01-19 |title=Hampshire cricket to “break the mould” with sustainability-focused Utilita stadium naming rights partnership |url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/hampshire-cricket-utilita-bowl-stadium-naming-rights-sustainability/ |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=SportsPro |language=en-GB}}