How Can A Supplier Protect Itself From Insolvent Customers?

The last few years have seen a number of high profile high street retail casualties. Although we are told that the economy is recovering, we may not have seen the last and so how do electricity suppliers protect themselves against insolvent customers?

Clearly a supplier cannot protect itself completely, but it should take certain steps, for example, ensure that invoices are sent out on a regular basis. This way, monitoring a customer and their payment profile and spotting anomalies is easier. A regular review should be undertaken of the customers' circumstances. In particular: