SEFE Energy — Supplier Profile
(formerly Gazprom Energy)
About SEFE Energy
SEFE Energy is the UK business energy supply arm of SEFE — Securing Energy for Europe. The story behind SEFE Energy’s rebranding is one of the most consequential in the UK energy sector’s recent history, and it’s worth understanding for any business that has, or is considering, a contract with this supplier.
The Gazprom chapter: The company began as Pennine Natural Gas in the North West of England. In 2006, Gazprom Marketing & Trading — the UK trading arm of the Russian state gas giant Gazprom — acquired the business and rebranded it as Gazprom Energy. Over the following 16 years it grew significantly, serving over 50,000 businesses and organisations across the UK, France, and the Netherlands, and became well-regarded for competitive pricing and strong customer service from its Manchester-based team.
The 2022 turning point: Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Gazprom Germania GmbH — the Berlin-based parent of the UK operation — was placed under trusteeship of Germany’s Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) in April 2022. Gazprom Group then withdrew from the entity. On 17 June 2022, Gazprom Germania renamed to SEFE Securing Energy for Europe GmbH. On 1 August 2022, the UK supply company — formerly Gazprom Marketing & Trading Retail Limited — became SEFE Energy Limited. On 14 November 2022, the German Federal Government nationalised SEFE Group in its entirety; SEFE Energy is now 100% owned by the Federal Republic of Germany, represented by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).
SEFE Energy’s day-to-day UK operations were unaffected by the ownership transition. The Manchester customer service team, contact details, bank details (updated to the SEFE Energy name), and supply contracts all remained in place. The company continues to serve businesses across the UK and has actively worked to reassure customers that it remains a stable, independent, German state-owned entity with no ongoing Russian influence.
Registered address: 20 Triton Street, London, NW1 3BF (incorporated 11 January 2000, Company No. 03904624)
Quick Facts
| Parent company | SEFE Securing Energy for Europe GmbH (100% owned by the Federal Republic of Germany) |
| UK HQ | 20 Triton Street, London NW1 3BF (customer service: Manchester) |
| Founded in UK | 2006 (as Gazprom Energy); rebranded SEFE Energy August 2022 |
| Business customers | 50,000+ organisations (UK, France, Netherlands) |
| Fuel types supplied | Gas and electricity |
| Business phone | Published on sefe-energy.co.uk |
| Trustpilot score | 4.3/5 (~292 reviews) |
| Customer service base | Manchester (UK-based team) |
What to Expect as a Business Customer
Security — Fixed Pricing
SEFE Energy offers fixed-term contracts designed for small and medium-sized businesses, with terms typically ranging from 1 to 5 years. Commodity costs are fixed for the duration; non-commodity costs (network charges, environmental levies) are passed through at actual rates in line with most suppliers.
For larger business customers (typically spending over £8,000 per year on energy), SEFE offers tailored contracts that can be shaped around specific consumption profiles and risk tolerances.
The company has historically been competitive on headline unit rates, particularly for gas — unsurprising given the group’s deep roots in European gas procurement and the 200 TWh of natural gas it delivers annually across nine European markets.
Standing charges: SEFE Energy’s standing charges have been noted as higher than some competitors, which can affect cost-effectiveness for businesses with lower energy usage. Worth factoring into any comparison.
Security deposits: SEFE conducts credit checks at contract start and renewal; a security deposit may be required depending on creditworthiness.
Transparency — Contract End Process
Standard termination notice periods apply at SEFE Energy — businesses should check their specific contract terms. SEFE’s billing is reported as accurate and invoices as clearly laid out, which is consistent across Trustpilot reviews. The company publishes out-of-contract rates (updated as of April 2025) for micro and non-micro businesses.
Email addresses changed in 2022 from @gazprom-energy.com to @sefe-energy.com — any businesses still receiving correspondence from the old domain should contact SEFE to update their records.
Convenience — Payments and Account Management
- Online portal: SEFE Energy has an online account management portal; a dedicated SME portal was noted as in development
- Customer service: Manchester-based UK team, consistently praised in Trustpilot reviews for responsiveness and resolution speed
- Response times: Multiple reviews specifically mention quick phone pick-up times — a genuine differentiator in a market where many suppliers have long wait times
- VAT: 5% for qualifying micro-businesses, 20% standard
- Smart metering: Offered across the customer base
Services
- Dual fuel: Gas and electricity supply
- Renewable energy options: Renewable electricity tariffs and carbon offset gas plans available
- Carbon management: Support for businesses working towards carbon reduction goals
- Tailored contracts: Bespoke pricing and contract structures for larger consumption profiles
Environmental
- Fuel mix (current): Approximately 9% coal, 46% natural gas, 2% nuclear, 39% renewables, 4% other — the 39% renewable component is notable but the coal proportion (higher than UK average) is a watch point for sustainability-focused businesses
- Renewable tariffs: Available for businesses wanting 100% renewable electricity
- Carbon offset: Carbon-neutral gas options available
- SEFE Group ambition: The parent group has signed significant long-term LNG and Norwegian gas deals (with Equinor through to 2034; with US LNG producers Venture Global and ConocoPhillips) as part of its European energy security mandate — this is infrastructure-level commitment, not just supply trading
Sector Fit Assessment
| Sector | Fit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hospitality | ★★★☆☆ | Competitive fixed pricing; higher standing charges may not suit low-consumption venues |
| Manufacturing | ★★★★★ | Gas procurement heritage makes SEFE strong for gas-heavy manufacturing; competitive multi-year fixed rates |
| Retail | ★★★★☆ | Reliable supply, accurate billing, and UK-based customer service work well for retail operations |
| Education | ★★★★☆ | Stable supplier (German state-owned) with multi-year contract options suits public sector procurement cycles |
| Healthcare | ★★★★☆ | Financial stability and clear billing suit healthcare organisations with governance requirements |
| Automotive | ★★★☆☆ | Adequate for standard energy needs; no specialist automotive products |
| Professional services | ★★★★☆ | UK-based responsive customer service aligns with professional services expectations |
| SMEs (general) | ★★★★☆ | Strong value proposition for SMEs with meaningful gas consumption; less compelling for electricity-only or very low usage sites |
Telnergy’s Take
What we like:
- Manchester-based customer service team is genuinely responsive — Trustpilot reviews repeatedly mention quick answer times and first-call resolution, which is rare among major suppliers
- German state-owned since November 2022 — completely severed from Russian ownership; if there was residual reputational concern from the Gazprom era, the ownership structure is now as politically stable as it gets
- Competitive gas pricing — the group’s European gas procurement infrastructure translates into competitive rates for gas-heavy businesses
- 50,000+ UK customers maintained through the rebrand — continuity of service through a complex ownership transition demonstrates operational resilience
- Multi-year contracts (up to 5 years) — longer terms than many suppliers offer, useful for businesses wanting extended price certainty
- Accurate billing and clear invoices — consistent theme across positive reviews
Watch points:
- The Gazprom legacy is a reputational question — some businesses, particularly those with ESG commitments or stakeholder scrutiny, may face questions about the historical association. The German state ownership since 2022 is the definitive response, but it requires proactive communication
- Standing charges run high — businesses with lower or variable consumption should model the total cost carefully; the headline unit rate may look competitive while the standing charge adds up
- Trustpilot review volume is low (292 reviews) — harder to draw statistically robust conclusions than from suppliers with thousands of reviews. The score is strong but from a smaller sample
- Online portal maturity — the SME self-service portal was noted as still developing; businesses wanting sophisticated digital account management may find the offering behind market leaders like Valda or Octopus
Is SEFE Energy Right For You?
Consider SEFE Energy if:
- You have a significant gas requirement and want competitive pricing from a supplier with deep European gas procurement infrastructure
- You want a UK-based customer service team that actually picks up the phone quickly
- Multi-year price certainty (up to 5 years) matters for your budget planning
- You need a financially stable supplier backed by a sovereign government — the German state ownership is as solid a parent as exists in the European energy market
Consider alternatives if:
- The Gazprom historical association creates a reputational concern for your business or stakeholders (even though ownership has been German state since November 2022)
- Your business has very low energy consumption and the standing charge makes SEFE uncompetitive on a total cost basis
- You want a fully self-service digital portal with a mobile app (Valda or Octopus are better positioned)
- You want verified renewable electricity as your standard supply rather than an optional upgrade
Quick Comparison
| SEFE Energy | Market average | |
|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot | 4.3/5 (292 reviews) | ~3.8–4.2/5 |
| Ownership | German Federal Government | Various |
| Contract lengths | 1–5 years | 12–36 months typical |
| Commodity pricing | Fixed | Fixed or pass-through |
| Non-commodity | Pass-through | Usually pass-through |
| Gas specialism | Strong | Variable |
| UK customer service | Manchester-based | Often offshore or automated |
| Renewable option | Yes | Common |
Get in Touch
If you’re weighing SEFE Energy against the wider market — particularly if you have a gas-intensive operation — Telnergy can run a full multi-supplier tender to ensure the unit rates and standing charges stack up competitively.
Telnergy Limited 📞 01202 028888 📧 hello@telnergy.com 📱 WhatsApp: 07360 272168
No obligation, no pressure — just straight-talking energy advice.
References
- SEFE Energy name change and ownership explanation: sefe-energy.co.uk/help-support/about-sefe-energy/our-name-change-ownership
- SEFE Energy registered address: Companies House (Company No. 03904624)
- Trustpilot reviews: uk.trustpilot.com/review/sefe-energy.co.uk
- Black Sheep Utilities supplier profile: blacksheeputilities.co.uk/sefe-energy
- Smart Energy Company comparison: smart-energy.uk/supplier-comparison/sefe-energy
Telnergy Limited is an independent commercial energy consultancy established in 2002, based in Christchurch, Dorset. Ofgem registered TPI · ADR Ref E3561 · CRN 04576876.