Renewable energy supplier Bulb is thought to be in crisis talks with ministers and industry regulator Ofgem over its future.
The power company is the UK's seventh biggest, with 1.7 million customers.
Ofgem is understood to be accelerating contingency plans for Bulb 's collapse, as it struggles to find a buyer amid turmoil in the worldwide power market.
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It is thought the London-based company could collapse as early as next week, making it the 14th gas and electricity supplier to go since the beginning of September.
Industry sources told Sky News that talks with a small number of potential buyers were ongoing, but that others had pulled out in recent days.
They added that it was highly unlikely that Bulb could survive through November without new funding.
Bulb is thought to have liabilities of approximately £1billion.
Bulb was founded in 2015 by Amit Gudka and Hayden Wood, and has accumulated a 6% share of the market.
It supplies 100% renewable electricity and 100% carbon-neutral gas.
