Business customers will no longer be sold products that automatically commit them to further fixed-term contracts by British Gas, the energy supplier announced today.

British Gas is the first energy supplier to commit to ending auto-rollover contracts, and the company is calling on other suppliers to follow suit.

Products without auto-rollover will be launched in September 2013 for new customers.

From June 2014, existing British Gas customers will be offered renewal options that require the customer to make a choice about which tariff they would like to sign up to, and which will not include another automatic fixed-term contract. Customers will be able to choose from a range of fixed-term or variable options.


Existing customers who reach the end of their contracts before June 2014 will be able to move to a non-rollover contract if they contact British Gas to discuss their renewal.

Stephen Beynon, Managing Director of British Gas Business, said: "At British Gas, we are committed to leading the way in making the sale of energy simple and transparent for all our customers. Increasing numbers of our small business customers have told us they don't like the way the energy industry automatically moves them onto new contracts, so we've decided we will lead the way and put an end to this practice for our customers.

"We're the first supplier to announce an end to auto-rollover contracts and we're calling on the industry and the regulator to work together to ensure that all customers have a transparent choice of products that never include auto-rollover."

(CD/JP)