Following a consultation on the issues last year, the government is proposing that  essential suppliers of IT, water, gas, electricity and communications services will be prevented from cutting off supply or charging premium rates while insolvency practitioners seek a viable solution to rescue a business.

Insolvency law currently includes a limited list of utility suppliers who may seek a personal guarantee from an insolvency practitioner before continuing to supply an insolvent company, but who may not demand payment of pre-insolvency debt as a condition of further supply.