How to switch energy supplier

Find the cheapest gas and electricity deals and know what you need to do to change energy supplier.
Sarah IngramsPrincipal researcher & writer
Woman sitting by the window looking at a tablet

Fixed energy deals are returning to the market, so opportunities to save money on energy by switching could be around the corner.

If you are considering a fixed tariff, compare its unit rates to what you would be paying if you stuck with the price-capped variable option you're currently on. So far, there are few deals that would save you money in the long-term but that could change.

You might still want to switch if you are moving house, find your current supplier very difficult to deal with in terms of its customer service, or want a specialist tariff such as an EV tariff.

You can calculate what you might pay over the next 12 months if you stay on a variable tariff using our energy bill calculator - head to our guide to how to get the best energy deal

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Can I switch energy supplier?

If you pay your energy company directly for your gas and electricity, then you can choose your energy supplier.

If you signed up to a fixed tariff then you may be charged an exit fee to switch before the end of your contract. You can find out your contract end date in your online account or latest statement.

You can switch energy supplier if you're in debt as long as:

  • you have owed your supplier money for less than 28 days and pay by direct debit or when you receive a bill (your debt will be added onto your final bill)
  • you have less than £500 debt for gas and £500 for electricity and have a prepayment meter (you'll repay your debt to your new supplier instead).

If you rent your home, it depends on who pays the bills. Scroll to the bottom of this page for more information.

Before you switch, see the best energy companies for 2024.

What you need to switch energy supplier

The more detailed the information you give when you're getting a quote for a new gas and electricity tariff, the more accurate it will be. Have the following handy:

1. Your full address

Prices vary by region, and some energy deals are only available in certain areas, so using your full address will make sure that the quotes you get are applicable to your home. 

2. The name of your current gas and electricity supplier(s) and tariff(s)

This means that any savings estimates are compared with your current tariff. 

Otherwise, your savings may be based on a 'default', such as the company that historically supplied your area. There's a risk that this could make your estimated savings look bigger than the reality. 

Find out the name of your energy tariff on your latest bill or in your online account.

3. How much gas and electricity you use

To get an accurate quote for gas and electricity costs, provide your energy use, usually in kilowatt hours (kWh), for the past year.

Your latest bill or statement should tell you how much you've used in the past month. Your annual energy statement or a summary on your online account should tell you your use over a year.

Energy statement

For a really accurate measure of how much energy you've used in a year, try this:

  • find a meter reading on a past statement or your online account taken from around a year ago (an actual or smart meter reading, not an estimate)
  • deduct that from today's reading. 

Electricity meters measure in kWh but most gas meters measure in cubic metres of gas. You'll need to convert this number to kWh to get a figure you can use. This calculation will be shown on your gas bill.

If you don’t know how much energy you will use – perhaps if you've just moved into a new home – you can estimate it instead. Price comparison websites, energy firms and autoswitching services will often ask a few questions to estimate what you use, such as:

  • the number of people living in your home
  • the type of property
  • the number of bedrooms.

But calculating your payments in this way will be less accurate than using your actual energy use. So a few months into your contract, your payments could change to reflect how much gas and electricity you're using in practice.

Find out more about how to estimate your energy use.

4. Your payment details

To pay by direct debit, you'll need to provide your bank details upfront. Sometimes credit card details are permitted too.

Compare gas and electricity prices

Person comparing energy deals on a laptop

There are several options to compare energy prices:

  • Price comparison websites show you a range of deals so you can compare costs. Our free and independent energy comparison service is one of these. It shows all available energy deals on the market, whether or not we can help you switch to it, so you’ll know whether the deal you pick is really the best value for you.
  • Going directly to an energy company will show you its deals only. It'll involve more legwork if you want to compare several companies' offerings. It won't be able to switch you to those that are exclusive arrangements with third parties (such as price comparison websites). 
  • Autoswitching services also compare prices based on your preferences. With your permission they can switch you automatically to what they calculate to be the best deal for you, then keep checking prices to keep you on the best deal.

If you're on a fixed rate tariff taken out before prices spiked and your contract is ending soon, your supplier will let you know. A few suppliers are offer fixed tariffs again. 

Remember that if you do nothing when your contract expires, you'll be switched to your provider's variable or default tariff. For many people, this may be the cheapest option.

Find out more about how to get the best energy deal.

Types of energy tariff

However you compare prices, there are various types of tariff to choose from depending on what's important to you. 

All tariffs will be either fixed or variable:

  • Fixed tariff: The amounts you pay per unit of gas or electricity, and for your daily standing charge, are fixed for the length of your deal.
  • Variable tariff: The amount you pay per unit of gas and electricity will change whenever your energy company raises or lowers its prices. It must give you 30 days’ notice if it'll make you worse off.

Most tariffs charge the same rate no matter what time of day you use energy. However there are a few time-of-use tariffs which charge different amounts depending on when you use electricity:

  • Economy 7 and Economy 10 give seven or 10 hours of cheaper electricity, mostly overnight. They're becoming less common as smart meters are becoming more widespread.
  • Smart time-of-use tariffs use half-hourly smart meter readings to allow companies to charge lower rates when electricity is cheaper. 

You may also come across:

  • Dual-fuel tariff: any energy tariff including both gas and electricity. They're handy for reducing your admin, and can be a little cheaper.
  • Paperless or online-only tariff: you won’t get bills through the post, and will need to manage at least some of your account online. Some suppliers charge less for these, but not all.

Find out more in energy tariffs explained.

Energy tariffs: what to check before you switch

If you're considering a fixed energy tariff, check the following:

  • Does your tariff have exit fees? We've seen exit fees of £150 per fuel if you want to leave before the end of your contract. They only apply to fixed-term deals, and cannot be charged in the last 49 days of your tariff.
  • How much will your new deal cost per month? Check how this compares with your current payments.
  • Is your direct debit fixed or variable? Fixed direct debit payments are the same each month, to balance out the cost of your energy during the year. Some companies have previously charged different fixed payments for summer and winter. Variable direct debit payments change each month to match what you use.
  • How will you receive your bills? Check your online account or email if you won’t get them through the post.
  • Does your tariff require a smart meter? Some tariffs are only available to customers with smart meters, or if you agree to have one fitted.
  • Is there an upfront payment? Some tariffs require one month's payment (or even two, in some cases) before they start supplying your gas and electricity. Some prepayment deals require a security deposit. 

Do I need to tell my energy supplier that I'm switching?

Electricity pylons above yellow flowers

No, you don't need to contact the energy company you're leaving. 

Your new supplier will set up your switch and tell your old supplier. 

It's worth sending both suppliers a meter reading on the day you switch to make sure that both bill you correctly. You shouldn't need to do this if you have a smart meter sending daily (or more frequent) meter readings.

If you're moving home, tell your energy supplier at least 48 hours in advance (ideally more). Some may let you start the process around a month in advance. You might be able to take your existing tariff with you.

If not, contact the supplier at your new property to tell them that you've moved in. You can find out the energy supplier for your property on the Ofgem website if the previous occupant hasn't left details.

Use our home moving checklist to find out who else you need to contact when moving home.

How long does it take to switch energy supplier?

It can take up to 21 days to switch to a different energy firm, but will typically take 6 days for electricity and 17 for gas, according to the latest data from energy regulator Ofgem.

That’s not including the 14-day cooling-off period the supplier must leave in case you want to change your mind before it begins the switch.

If you’re keen for a quicker switch you can choose a company signed up to the Energy Switch Guarantee. These firms aim to switch you within five working days of receiving your request (if that's what you want).

These are: British Gas, EDF Energy, Eon Next, Octopus Energy, Outfox the Market, Ovo Energy, Scottish Power, Shell Energy and So Energy (correct February 2024).

Find out more about the Energy Switch Guarantee.

Will I get compensation if I have a problem switching?

Woman on the phone looking upset

If something goes wrong when you switch energy supplier, you may be eligible for compensation.

Energy firms must pay customers £30 if: 

  • you are switched without your permission or by mistake
  • your switch is not completed within 15 working days (after the 14-day cooling-off period has elapsed)
  • your supplier fails to send you your final bill within six weeks of your switch
  • your credit balance is not refunded within 10 working days of your supplier sending your final bill.

These rules are set by energy regulator Ofgem. Different rules apply to suppliers that have gone out of business. 

The compensation is automatic, although you may need to tell your energy supplier about the problem. 

You should get any compensation you are owed within 10 working days. If you don't, your supplier should pay you an extra £30 in compensation.

How to switch energy supplier as a tenant

If you rent your home and pay your energy company directly for your gas and electricity, then you can choose your energy supplier according to consumer protection law.

But if your landlord pays the energy company direct, they will choose the energy supplier. You might be in this situation if:

  • your energy costs are included in your rent
  • your landlord pays your energy supplier and reclaims the money from you
  • your landlord has taken responsibility for energy bills between tenancies.

Your tenancy agreement should state whether you or your landlord is responsible for paying the gas and electricity bills. If your landlord pays the energy bills, you can ask them to change your supplier but they don’t have to.

Your tenancy agreement might include a ‘default’ or preferred energy supplier that your landlord or estate agent has set up. You can ask to renegotiate this clause in your contract. 

Even if you can't change it, you're entitled to switch company as long as you pay the bills directly. You should inform your landlord or letting agent, though, and there may be a clause that requires this.

There may also be a clause stating that you must return the account to the original energy supplier when you move out.

If you've just begun a new tenancy or haven’t switched energy supplier or tariff in a while, it’s likely you’re on the energy firm’s standard default or out-of-contract tariff. These are among the cheapest tariffs at the moment.

If you have a prepayment meter and rent your home, you should still be able to switch. Find out more about prepayment energy meters.