Octopus Energy is in detailed talks to purchase Shell's family power buyer base - a deal that might edge the corporate nearer to difficult British Gas because the UK's largest home fuel and electrical energy provider.

Sky News has learnt that Octopus Energy, run by Greg Jackson, has emerged because the frontrunner to accumulate Shell Energy Retail - six months after the oil behemoth positioned the division underneath strategic evaluate.

City sources mentioned on Friday that different events remained within the body to purchase the enterprise from Shell, including that Octopus Energy was not in formal exclusivity and {that a} superior supply may but emerge.

They mentioned, nonetheless, that Shell anticipated having the ability to signal a sale settlement through the autumn.

If accomplished, a takeover by Octopus Energy would take the variety of properties it provides within the UK to about 6.5 million - nonetheless wanting Centrica-owned British Gas however bigger than just about each different competitor within the UK market.

It was unclear on Friday whether or not Octopus Energy would additionally wish to retain the a lot smaller power retail companies that Shell is promoting as a part of the disposal bundle in Germany and the Netherlands.

Sources mentioned that Mr Jackson would search to dump Shell's 500,000-strong UK broadband buyer base that can be being bought.

Shell introduced a proper divestment course of within the spring, saying that promoting the unit would take away about $300m (£238m) in annual working bills.

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The news that Octopus Energy is the main contender to purchase the Shell enterprise has emerged on the identical day that Ofgem, the trade regulator, announced that the energy price cap would fall this winter to £1,923 from £2,074.

The watchdog's chief government, Jonathan Brearley, warned, although, that costs would stay unstable for the foreseeable future.

Sky News revealed earlier this year that Ovo Energy was additionally fascinated with a deal, whereas British Gas was additionally reported to have submitted a suggestion.

Octopus Energy has been reworked in scale lately, most lately having acquired Bulb Energy, which had about 1.7m family clients, following its collapse into insolvency.

Lazard, the funding financial institution, is dealing with the public sale on Shell's behalf.

Octopus Energy and Shell each declined to remark.