How to Switch Energy Supplier in the UK

Switching energy supplier in the UK means moving your gas, electricity or both to a new supplier, usually to get a cheaper tariff or better service. You can do it online in minutes, your physical supply does not change, and your new supplier handles the move for you. Ofgem rules require the switch to complete within five working days, and you keep a 14-day cooling-off period to change your mind.

With Ofgem confirming on 27 May 2026 that the energy price cap would rise 13% from 1 July 2026, more households are checking whether a fixed deal beats staying on the standard variable tariff. Around 40% of accounts (22 million) were already on fixed tariffs and shielded from that rise, according to Ofgem.

• Check your current tariff and exit fees on a recent bill before you start.
• Compare tariffs using your annual usage in kWh, not just the headline price.
• Pick a deal, sign up online, and your new supplier arranges the switch.
• The switch takes up to five working days, with no interruption to your gas or electricity.

What you need before you start a switch

Before you switch energy supplier you need four pieces of information: your current supplier’s name, your current tariff name, your annual energy use in kWh, and how you pay. The Energy Saving Trust, last updated 19 January 2026, lists these as the details that let a comparison return accurate quotes rather than rough estimates.

Your tariff name and usage figures both appear on a recent bill or your online account. Annual usage in kilowatt-hours matters most, because two homes paying the same monthly amount can use very different amounts of energy, and the cheapest tariff for a high user is not always cheapest for a low user.

It also helps to know your exit fee position. On a standard variable tariff you can switch at any time with no penalty. On a fixed tariff, Citizens Advice notes you can switch penalty-free if you have 49 days or less left on the contract; with 50 days or more remaining you might pay an exit fee to leave early.

• The name of your current energy supplier.
• Your current tariff name (shown on a recent bill).
• Your annual gas and electricity use in kWh.
• How you pay now (Direct Debit, prepayment, on receipt of bill) and how you want to pay.

Compare energy tariffs for your home

How does switching energy supplier work step by step?

Switching energy supplier works in three stages: you compare tariffs, you sign up with your chosen supplier, and the new supplier arranges the transfer with your old one. You do not need to contact your current supplier yourself, and you do not need to cancel anything first; the new supplier takes over on an agreed date.

Under the Energy Switch Guarantee and Ofgem rules, the switch should complete within five working days of you signing up, or on a later date if you ask for one. Your gas and electricity supply is not physically disconnected at any point, because the pipes, wires and meters stay exactly the same, only the company billing you changes.

You will be asked for an opening meter reading around the switch date. Submitting an accurate reading, or letting your smart meter send one, makes sure your old supplier produces a correct final bill and your new supplier starts from the right point. You can read more about your protections in our guide to the Energy Switch Guarantee and the switching process.

How long does it take to switch?

It should take up to five working days to switch your energy supplier, according to Ofgem. You can also ask to be switched on a later date if that suits you, for example to line it up with the end of a fixed term or your next billing date.

After the switch, the 14-day cooling-off period runs from when you agreed the contract, so you can cancel and stay put if you change your mind. Some suppliers extend this voluntarily, but 14 days is the legal minimum under consumer law.

Can you save money by switching, and is it worth it now?

You can save money by switching energy supplier if a fixed or sub-cap tariff beats what you currently pay, but the saving depends on your usage and current tariff rather than being guaranteed. The most reliable comparison uses your actual annual kWh against the new tariff’s unit rates and standing charge.

Ofgem’s price cap from 1 July to 30 September 2026 limits unit rates and the standing charge for a typical household on a standard variable tariff, not a fixed total bill, and Ofgem confirmed on 27 May 2026 that gas unit rates rise around 24% while electricity rises around 5%. Average standing charges from July 2026 are 29.1p a day for gas and 57.2p a day for electricity, with capped unit rates of around 7.3p/kWh for gas and 26.1p/kWh for electricity.

In June 2026, several fixed tariffs from major suppliers were priced below the July price cap level, meaning a household on the cap could potentially reduce its annual cost by fixing. Whether you save depends on the gap between your current rates and the fixed deal, and on any exit fee you would pay to leave a current contract early.

See which tariffs beat the price cap

How to compare energy tariffs properly

To compare energy tariffs properly, compare the total estimated annual cost based on your own kWh usage, not the headline monthly figure or the cheapest unit rate alone. A tariff with low unit rates but a high standing charge can cost a low user more than a tariff with the opposite structure.

Fixed tariffs lock your unit rates and standing charge for a set term, usually 12 to 24 months, which protects you if the price cap rises but means no benefit if rates fall. A standard variable tariff tracks the price cap and changes each quarter. Time-of-use tariffs, such as off-peak EV or heat pump tariffs, charge different rates through the day and only suit households that can shift usage to cheaper windows.

Watch the exit fees too. In June 2026, some 12-month fixes carried no exit fee while others charged £25 to £50 per fuel, so a £50 to £100 dual-fuel penalty can offset an early-switch saving. Always check the tariff information label for the exact fee before committing.

Find a cheaper energy deal

Compare whole-of-market tariffs using your own usage in minutes.

Compare energy now

Can you switch energy supplier when in debt or on prepayment?

You can switch energy supplier even if you owe money, provided you have been in debt for less than 28 days, according to Ofgem. Your old supplier adds anything you owe to your final bill and you settle it as normal. If you have been in debt for more than 28 days, you cannot switch until you clear the arrears.

Prepayment meter customers can still switch if they owe their supplier up to £500 for gas and up to £500 for electricity, under Ofgem’s Debt Assignment Protocol. The debt moves across to your new prepayment supplier rather than blocking the switch.

Being in credit is different from being in debt. If your account is in credit when you switch, that money is not lost or automatically transferred to the new supplier; your old supplier refunds the balance after producing your final bill, usually within a few weeks. Submitting an accurate closing meter reading speeds up an accurate refund.

How to switch energy supplier when moving house

When you move house you do not switch in the usual sense at first: you inherit a deemed contract with whoever supplies the new property, then you are free to switch to any supplier you choose straight away. A deemed contract is the default arrangement you are placed on when you move in without choosing a tariff, and it is usually one of the more expensive options.

On your moving day, take meter readings at both the old and new property and tell your current supplier you are leaving, ideally giving around 48 hours’ notice and your forwarding address so they can send a final bill. Contact the new property’s existing supplier to open an account in your name using your move-in reading, then compare and switch to a better tariff.

You do not need to disconnect anything or coordinate two suppliers yourself. The supply continues uninterrupted, and the deemed contract simply bridges the gap until your chosen switch completes. Knowing your energy supplier switching rights helps if a supplier resists a move-in account.

Switching with a smart meter and avoiding double charges

You can switch energy supplier with a smart meter, and the meter itself stays in place and keeps working. After a switch, some first-generation (SMETS1) smart meters temporarily lose their automatic readings and revert to manual, while second-generation (SMETS2) meters generally keep their smart functions across suppliers.

A common worry is paying two suppliers in the same month. You can reduce the risk of an overlapping Direct Debit by timing your switch around 14 days before your next payment is due, so the old supplier collects, then closes the account, before a new payment lands. Any genuine overpayment is reconciled in your final bill and refunded, so you are not charged twice for the same energy.

If your smart meter loses connectivity after a switch, your new supplier should restore its smart functions, and you can ask them to do so. For more on smart meter timing, see our guide on when your smart meter will be installed.

Switch your energy in a few minutes

Your rights and protections when switching

Your switch is protected by Ofgem’s rules and the Energy Switch Guarantee, which set standards for speed and put compensation in place if a supplier gets it wrong. If a switch is delayed beyond the agreed timeframe or you are switched in error, Ofgem’s Guaranteed Standards of Performance require the supplier to pay automatic compensation.

You also keep the 14-day cooling-off period to cancel a new contract, and an erroneous transfer, where you are switched without agreeing to it, must be put right by the suppliers involved at no cost to you. If a supplier does not resolve a complaint within eight weeks, you can take it to the Energy Ombudsman for free.

Tenants who pay their energy bills directly to the supplier have the right to switch, and a landlord or letting agent cannot prevent it, although you should check your tenancy agreement for any clause requiring you to return to a named supplier at the end of the tenancy. If you pay your landlord for energy rather than the supplier, you cannot switch yourself. You can read more on consumer rights for energy switching before you start.

• Gas and Electricity FAQs | Save on Energy Bills UK
• Business Energy Savings for Winter 2021 | Free Price Compare
• Energy Switch Guarantee: Simplified Supplier Switching
• When Will My Smart Meter Be Installed? UK Supplier Updates
• Consumer Rights for Energy Switching in the UK

Information correct as of 27 June 2026. Prices, tariffs, policy details and providers change frequently, so please check the latest details before making a decision. This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice.