Energy suppliers Enstroga, Igloo Energy and Symbio Energy have announced they are ceasing to trade, Ofgem has said.
Enstroga has 6,000 customers, Igloo Energy has 179,000 and Symbio Energy has about 48,000, temporarily leaving some 233,000 customers without a supplier.
Ofgem has stressed that customers will continue to receive gas and electricity as normal.
The energy industry regulator said it would choose the suppliers to take over the customers’ accounts, and that the newly-appointed companies would get in contact with the account holders.
Ofgem promised that any credit in customers’ accounts would be safe.
Domestic customers will also be protected by the energy price cap when being switched to a new supplier.
Customers of the three firms are advised to wait until a new supplier has been appointed and made contact before looking to switch.
The three firms are the latest to cease trading in recent weeks amid an unprecedented spike in global gas prices.
Their collapse came after failures by People’s Energy, Green Supplier Ltd, Utility Point, PfP Energy, MoneyPlus Energy, and Avro Energy.
This means that nine small energy suppliers have gone bust since the start of this month.
Ofgem’s retail director Neil Lawrence said: “Ofgem’s number one priority is to protect customers.
“We know this is a worrying time for many people and news of a supplier going out of business can be unsettling.
“Our safety net will make sure your energy supplies continue.
“If you have credit on your Enstroga, Igloo Energy or Symbio Energy account, the funds you have paid in are protected and you will not lose the money that is owed to you.”
