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Big six supplier SSE has been appointed by Ofgem to take on the 17,000 customers of failed supplier Brilliant Energy.

Brilliant, which also supplied customers under a white label agreement with Northumbria Energy, became the third supplier of 2019 to cease trading on Monday (11 March).

SSE is offering customers of Brilliant and those under the white label agreement a “competitive tariff” once the switch is completed tomorrow (15 March).

Stephen Forbes, chief commercial officer at SSE, said: “We would like to reassure any customers concerned about their energy supply that there will be no interruptions to their service.

“We will be in touch with Brilliant Energy customers as soon as possible to welcome them to SSE and make them aware of all the options and benefits available to them as SSE customers, including a choice of tariffs, industry-leading customer service and a range of rewards and discounts.

“In the meantime, we would encourage them to take a meter reading as soon as possible to make sure we can provide them with accurate bills and return any owed credit balances.”

Philippa Pickford, Ofgem’s director for future retail markets, said: “I am pleased to announce we have appointed SSE, which will offer Brilliant Energy’s customers a competitive tariff for their energy.

“Their credit balances will be honoured and their energy supply will continue as normal.

“SSE will be in contact with customers over the coming days with further information. Once the transfer has been completed, customers can shop around for a better deal if they wish to.”

Brilliant ceased trading just days after it was revealed to be in credit default. Other suppliers to have collapsed this year include Economy Energy, which was also in credit default prior to market exit, and Our Power.

Last year Brilliant Energy was named as one of 14 suppliers which failed to meet its renewables obligation (RO) payment by the late payment deadline of 31 October.

The supplier was shown by industry regulator Ofgem to owe more than £77,000 in RO payments. According to Ofgem Brilliant’s RO payment was “made in full very shortly after the deadline”.

In 2018 eight domestic suppliers exited the market including IresaSparkExtraUsioFuture EnergyGen4UOne Select and Snowdrop.