The UK energy crisis has claimed more victims with the collapse of four suppliers, taking the total to 18.
The latest firms to be hit by surging wholesale gas and electricity prices are Omni Energy, MA Energy, Zebra Power and Ampoweruk, which collectively had 21,400 users in the UK and 2,300 overseas.
More than two million customers have been affected by the sharp rise in the cost of energy, which at one point surged to almost five times their historic average.
The problem has been exacerbated by a government cap that was meant to protect consumers but has forced companies to supply homes at uneconomic rates.
Ofgem said last Friday it would consult on changes to the cap
Households connected to failed suppliers will continue to receive electricity and gas, although inevitably their bills will increase.
Analysts said this latest flurry of failures is unlikely to be the last.
The crisis has been prompted by a sudden surge in demand for gas as economies began to emerge from Coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown restrictions.
This in turn has pushed energy prices to record highs in recent weeks.