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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Nils Pratley

There’s no excuse for wrapping the Bulb deal in so much secrecy

Octopus boss Greg Jackson
The Octopus boss, Greg Jackson, claimed that if his company ‘does make any money as a result of the acquisition the taxpayer gets a fair share of it’. Photograph: Octopus Energy/PA

Get ready to say farewell to Bulb, the bust energy supplier that has been hanging around in quasi-nationalised form for the past 12 months. The high court is scheduled to approve Bulb’s transfer out of administration at the end of this week, at which point Octopus Energy will become the owner of a business with 1.5 million customers.

Prepare also, no doubt, to hear another round of boasts from Grant Shapps, the business secretary, about how the sale is a great deal for the public purse. Do not, though, expect him – or anybody associated with the transaction – to offer evidence to support that claim. The level of transparency around this deal is shockingly poor.

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