Bulb Energy is reportedly seeking a bailout amid rising gas prices - firm’s response

As gas prices continue to rise, many energy firms are facing an uncertain future.

A significant surge in wholesale gas costs brought on by a high global demand has come at a time when supply has been reduced.

It is due to planned maintenance work, including a fifth of the UK's nuclear power stations currently offline, as well as reduced solar and wind energy outage.

While the energy price cap - a limit energy firms can charge its customers each year - has resulted in many companies shouldering the financial strain in the short term.

It comes as the UK prepares for its coldest months of the year with many households likely to use more energy heating their homes and using credit built up over the summer.

Here's a look at which UK energy companies have gone bust, those that appear to be in trouble - and if Bulb Energy is one of the firms looking for help from industry or the government.

Is Bulb Energy going bust?

Reports surfaced over the weekend that one of the UK's largest energy company, Bulb Energy, was seeking financial support just to stay afloat.

Bulb, founded in 2013, positioned itself as the renewable energy supplier in an already crowded market place, which had grown to 70 firms at the start of 2021.

Industry experts say that number could drop to as few as 10 by the end of the year due to the rising wholesale price of gas, which threatens many smaller suppliers.

Yet Bulb, with 1.7 million customers - the UK's sixth biggest energy company, is in trouble as it seeks a bailout to stay afloat ahead of the country's winter months.

In an effort to raise more funds, Bulb execs are in talks with investors while a potential merger with another company within the industry is also on the table, reports the Financial Times.

Which energy companies have gone bust?

Many energy firms are experiencing mounting pressure brought on by the rise in wholesale gas prices.

Industry group Oil & Gas UK have found that wholesale gas prices are up 250% since January with a 70% rise since August.