Switch energy supplier (2026)

How long does it take to switch energy supplier?

A standard UK energy switch takes about five working days from the moment you apply, and your gas and electricity are never interrupted. Nothing physical changes — the same wires and pipes deliver the same energy to your home. The only thing that changes is which company bills you and at what rate.

What you need to switch

Less than most people expect. You do not need your account number, a meter reading up front, or your old supplier’s permission:

• Your postcode — rates are regional, so this sets your actual prices
• A rough idea of what you spend — a recent bill is ideal, but your monthly direct debit is enough to get close
• How you pay — monthly direct debit is normally the cheapest method
• Your bank details — only at the point you actually accept a deal

If you have a smart meter, opening readings are usually sent automatically. If not, you will be asked for a reading on or near the switch date — take a photo of the meter that day and you are covered.

Can everyone switch electricity suppliers?

Almost everyone, but a few situations need care:

• You are in debt to your supplier. If you owe more than £500 (gas or electricity) you usually need to clear it first. Under £500 and on prepayment, the debt can often move with you under the Debt Assignment Protocol.
• You rent. If your name is on the energy bill, the choice is yours — your landlord cannot stop you. If energy is included in the rent, they hold the contract.
• You are mid-fix. Check the exit fee, then compare it with the saving. In the final 49 days of any fixed deal your supplier cannot charge exit fees at all, so that window is free.
• You are on prepayment. You can still switch, and you can also ask to move to a credit meter — suppliers now normally do this free.

What happens to your old account and any credit

Your old supplier closes the account and issues a final bill within about six weeks. Any credit balance is refunded to you automatically — you do not have to chase it, though it is worth checking it arrives. Keep your existing direct debit running until that final bill settles; cancelling early is the most common cause of a messy switch.

If anything goes wrong — a switch that takes more than 15 working days, or an erroneous transfer — Ofgem’s switching guarantee entitles you to compensation, paid automatically by the supplier at fault.

Is it worth switching right now?

The price cap sits at £1,862 a year for a typical dual-fuel home and is locked until 30 September 2026. Ofgem announces the next cap on 26 August, effective 1 October. That makes the maths unusually clean at the moment: today’s fixed deals are priced against a cap that is already known, so if a fix beats £1,862 on your own usage it is a genuine saving — and it also shelters you if October moves higher.

The households with most to gain are those who have never switched, or whose fix ended and rolled onto a standard variable tariff without them noticing. That rollover rate is the default, not a reward for loyalty.