Shell Energy Retail Limited was a British consumer gas, electricity and broadband provider.[1] Formerly a subsidiary of Shell, the business was acquired by Octopus Energy in December 2023.
The company purchased gas and electricity from international markets for resale to consumers. Originally known as First Utility, the company had a relationship with Shell, where it acted as an intermediary to purchase wholesale energy on the global market.[2] Shell completed the purchase of the company in February 2018, and rebranding to Shell Energy in the UK took place in March 2019. The business formed part of Shell's New Energies division until the 2023 sale to Octopus Energy.
History
First Utility was launched in 2008 by co-founders Mark Daeche, Darren Braham and Marcus Citron as a spin-out from First Telecom.[3][4]