Octopus Energy is in detailed to talks to purchase Shell's family power buyer base - a deal that might edge the corporate nearer to difficult British Gas because the UK's largest home fuel and electrical energy provider.

Sky News has learnt that Octopus Energy, run by Greg Jackson, has emerged because the frontrunner to amass Shell Energy Retail - six months after the oil behemoth positioned the division beneath strategic evaluation.

City sources mentioned on Friday that different events remained within the body to purchase the enterprise from Shell, including that Octopus Energy was not in formal exclusivity and {that a} superior supply may but emerge.

They mentioned, nevertheless, that Shell anticipated having the ability to signal a sale settlement in the course of the autumn.

If accomplished, a takeover by Octopus Energy would take the variety of properties it provides within the UK to about 6.5 million - nonetheless in need of Centrica-owned British Gas however bigger than just about each different competitor within the UK market.

It was unclear on Friday whether or not Octopus Energy would additionally need to retain the a lot smaller power retail companies that Shell is promoting as a part of the disposal package deal in Germany and the Netherlands.

Sources mentioned that Mr Jackson would search to dump Shell's 500,000-strong UK broadband buyer base that can also be being bought.

Shell introduced a proper divestment course of within the spring, saying that promoting the unit would take away about $300m (£238m) in annual working bills.

The information that Octopus Energy is the main contender to purchase the Shell enterprise has emerged on the identical day that Ofgem, the trade regulator, introduced that the power worth cap would fall this winter to £1,923 from £2,074.

The watchdog's chief govt, Jonathan Brearley, warned, although, that costs would stay unstable for the foreseeable future.

Sky News revealed earlier this 12 months that Ovo Energy was additionally concerned with a deal, whereas British Gas was additionally reported to have submitted a proposal.

Octopus Energy has been remodeled in scale in recent times, most just lately having acquired Bulb Energy, which had about 1.7m family prospects, following its collapse into insolvency.

Lazard, the funding financial institution, is dealing with the public sale on Shell's behalf.

Octopus Energy and Shell each declined to remark.

Content Source: information.sky.com