OVO and SSE business energy: how the two companies are related

Search for "OVO business" or "SSE business energy" and you will find people mixing the two up. The short version: OVO bought SSE's household supply arm, while SSE's business energy service is run by a different SSE company. Biz Energy is not affiliated with OVO or SSE, and this guide does not rate either.

What OVO bought from SSE

OVO agreed to buy SSE Energy Services, SSE's Great Britain household energy business, for £500m: £400m in cash plus £100m in loan notes. The Competition and Markets Authority cleared the deal in December 2019 and it completed in January 2020, making OVO the UK's second-largest household supplier with around five million customers. Reports of the deal say SSE then refocused on renewables and networks. The reports we read are about household customers; they do not say business customers moved to OVO.

Separately, an undated Utility Week report, which appears to be from around 2016, says OVO sold its own business customer base to the multi-service provider Verastar. We could not confirm that OVO currently sells business gas and electricity, so check directly before assuming it does.

E.ON now owns OVO

The ownership changed again in 2026. OVO agreed in May 2026 to sell its energy retail business to E.ON, and E.ON announced on 8 October 2026 that the purchase was complete after regulatory approval. E.ON says OVO will be fully integrated into E.ON; it has not set out in that announcement what happens to the OVO brand. Coverage of the deal is about household customers. None of this changes SSE Business Energy, which was never part of OVO. If you are an E.ON Next business customer, see our E.ON Next business guide.

Where SSE business energy sits now

SSE Business Energy is presented on the SSE Energy Solutions website. The company's complaint statement says SSE Energy Solutions is a trading name of SSE Energy Supply Limited. That is the legal entity to look for on your bill or Principal Terms. The site lists gas and electricity plans, smart meters and wider services such as commercial solar.

Question	OVO	SSE Business Energy
Bought SSE's household arm?	Yes (completed January 2020)	No, it stayed with SSE
Current owner	E.ON (purchase completed October 2026)	SSE
Business supply confirmed on its own site?	Not confirmed by us	Yes, via SSE Energy Solutions
Legal name to look for	Check your documents	SSE Energy Supply Limited (trading as SSE Energy Solutions)

Contacting SSE Business Energy

According to the supplier's business contact page, new-customer enquiries and existing-customer services have separate numbers and are staffed Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm; there is also an online form with a "make a complaint" option. Check the official contact page for the current numbers, since we prefer not to print numbers that can change.

If you are an OVO customer with a business query, start with the account paperwork to see which company is named, then use that company's own channels.

Why the name on your contract matters

Three reasons. First, only the contracting company can change your price or terms. Second, if a supplier fails, the regulator arranges a replacement; read what happens if your supplier goes bust. Third, any complaint must name the right company when it goes to the Ombudsman.

Worked example: comparing two quotes

A salon uses 12,000 kWh a year. Quote one: 27.0p/kWh, 70p/day. Quote two: 25.5p/kWh, 110p/day. Quote one: 12,000 x 0.27 = £3,240, plus 365 x 0.70 = £255.50, total £3,495.50. Quote two: 12,000 x 0.255 = £3,060, plus 365 x 1.10 = £401.50, total £3,461.50. Two is £34 cheaper before CCL and VAT, but only because usage is moderate. The low unit rate loses for lower users. Use the cost calculator with your numbers.

Switching and complaints

There is no cooling-off period, so a new contract binds you from signing. Check your end date first. The switch is run by the incoming supplier; see how to switch business energy.

SSE's complaint statement sets a three-step path for business customers: an adviser tries to resolve it, aiming for an answer by 5pm the next working day; a complaint management team reviews it internally, aiming for five working days; then the Energy Ombudsman if you are unhappy and eight weeks have passed or you hold a deadlock letter. The Ombudsman is free, and its decisions bind the supplier but not you. Our page on energy disputes adds detail. Only micro and small businesses can use the Energy Ombudsman.

When a supplier changes hands: what stays the same

Ownership news, like the OVO and SSE deal, tends to cause alarm. For business customers the useful rules are these.

Your contract

If a business or customer book is sold, your agreed contract terms generally carry on with the new owner until the end date. Prices that were fixed stay fixed unless the terms allow a change. If a letter arrives saying your supplier has changed, compare the new documents with your old Principal Terms.

Check the end date, not the brand

People often say "I am with SSE" when the paperwork names another company, or the reverse. Look for the contract end date in your terms. Our page on finding your contract end date lists where it hides.

Household accounts at business premises

Because OVO and SSE are known mainly for household supply, some sole traders ask whether they can stay on a domestic account. If you use the premises for business, you generally need a business contract; see can a small business use a domestic energy supplier and business vs domestic energy. The household price cap does not apply to business contracts.

VAT on mixed use

If part of the premises is a home, the 60% rule can matter: when at least 60% of the supply is for domestic use, the whole supply can be charged at 5% VAT; below that, only the domestic share is. A declaration is needed; see reduced-rate VAT declarations.

Checklist if you are unsure who supplies you

1. Look at the top and bottom of your latest bill for the legal company name and number.
2. Check your Principal Terms for the same name and the end date.
3. If the name on the bill and the brand on letters differ, ask the supplier in writing which company holds the contract.
4. Keep the answer with your contract; you will need the right name for any complaint.

Next steps

• Find the legal supplier name on your latest bill.
• Put the contract end date in your diary.
• Read about microbusiness protections to see what rights apply to you.
• Browse the supplier overview.