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How to switch your energy
Compare deals, understand your rights and save on your energy
Traditionally, switching your energy deal was the best way to cut bills, but with the recent energy crisis, savings aren't anywhere near what they used to be. Yet deals are returning, and for some, it could now be worth considering switching.
See also our key energy guides: What is the Price Cap?, Should I fix? and What to do if you're struggling to pay your energy bills.
Energy switching is back
In the wake of the recent energy crisis, which saw more than 20 firms go bust and switchers' deals disappear, over 80% of households are now on standard tariffs, with prices dictated by the Energy Price Cap.
Yet the energy price crises is far from over. The Energy Price Cap is currently predicted to rise substantially again this winter – by 10% – and then stay around that level in January, when the next quarterly change takes place.
However, competition is slowly returning, with fixes and other energy deals available to those willing to switch. There are fixed deals right now are priced at around the current Price Cap level. So while it's unlikely you'll be able to save much by switching, many could likely forestall upcoming hikes to Cap.
You can use our Cheap Energy Club tool to get a bespoke comparison. Or you can see our 'Should you fix guide?' for full help on deciding if switching is right for you.
Switching’s easy – it should take less than five working days
Switching's easy, the only thing that changes is customer service and who bills you. It's the same gas, same electricity and same safety. Your supply always stays on and no one visits your home unless you want or need smart meters.
And following changes to switching rules in 2022, you can now switch in just five working days (or pick a future date for your switch to happen). During the process, you can choose:
- To switch as soon as possible. Here, you should be switched within five working days (you still have your 14 day cooling-off period).
- To switch on a future date. Typically this would be five working days after the cooling-off period has ended (so about 21 days from when you apply), though some suppliers let you pick a date in future, generally up to around four weeks in the future.
Step 1: Use a comparison website to compare and find the best deal
To get a bespoke comparison of the top energy deals available to you, use a comparison website, such as our Cheap Energy Club, which looks at predicted future prices to help you work out if it's worth switching or not.
You'll need to plug in your address, your current energy supplier and tariff, and how much energy you use in a year (you can grab a recent bill to check this). If you don't know your actual energy use, most comparison sites can estimate for you.
Remember, the Price Cap changes every three months, so your prediction will change too. You can check the latest published predictions in our What is the Price Cap? guide.
Step 2: Choose your new tariff and decide when you want to switch
When comparing tariffs, consider which tariff is right for you, and remember to factor in things like exit fees and tariff length.
Step 3: Switch!
You can do this via comparison sites or directly with the supplier, either online or over the phone. Your new supplier will handle the whole process, so there's no need to contact your old supplier.
Do remember to take a meter reading on the day your switch completes (your new supplier will let you know when this is). This will be used to work out your final bill with your old supplier.
There are 'smarter' alternative tariffs that aren't always on comparison sites
There are a several options that are difficult to fully display and compare on traditional comparison sites, but they may work out cheaper for some households. For most of these tariffs, you'll need to have a working smart meter.
EDF and E.on Next have tracker tariffs – basically discounted Price Cap deals
Both EDF and E.on Next have variable tariffs which track 3% below the Price Cap for 12 months (so when the Cap rises, so will these tariffs) – but they work slightly differently to each other:
- E.on Next Pledge. Here, it's the unit rates that are discounted, so this tends to be better if you're a higher user (as usage would make up a higher proportion of your bill over the standing charges). See our E.on Next Pledge analysis for full info.
- EDF Ensure. With this tariff, the standing charges are discounted, so it tends to be better for lower users (where the standing charges are a larger proportion of your annual bill). See our EDF Ensure analysis.
Octopus Tracker and Agile can be substantially cheaper
Existing Octopus customers can get its Tracker tariff, where rates change daily based on wholesale costs, so when they're low, as they are now, it's cheap. It's been around 31% cheaper than the Price Cap on average over the last year, but of course, there's a risk it can go the other way. If wholesale rates rise, it could become substantially more expensive.
Also, its electricity-only Agile tariff's rates change half-hourly, based on wholesale prices – good for those who can shift their usage nimbly to take advantage of super-cheap times.
If you're not an existing Octopus customer you could try first switching to Octopus's Price Cap tariff then, once in, switching to one of these (if still available).
Got an EV? Consider a dedicated tariff
Several suppliers have launched specific two-rate tariffs that offer cheaper electricity overnight for charging your electric vehicle (EV). If your car charge costs make up a decent proportion of your electricity usage (or you can shift other usage to these hours), these can work well. See what's available in our EV tariffs guide.
There are specialist tariffs if you have solar panels or a heat pump
With more and more homes adding heat pumps and solar panels, energy suppliers are starting to launch new tariffs specifically designed for those households.
Heat pump tariffs tend to be time of use tariffs, where you get discounted electricity to power your heat pump at certain times of the day.
Solar panel tariffs are more about making money from exporting your excess electricity, rather than saving money on energy use. Most suppliers offer export tariffs, which pay you for electricity you don't use and transfer back to the grid. You can get one of these export tariffs alongside your energy supply tariff, and it doesn't have to be the same provider for both.
You have a 14 day cooling-off period if you change your mind
If you do switch, regardless of what tariff you go for, you have a 14 day cooling-off period, which starts from the date you submit your switch. So if you change your mind, you can just go back to your original supplier, and you won't have to pay any exit fees.
How it works depends on how far along in the switching process you are:
- If you haven’t been switched to the new supplier yet. Contact the new supplier to cancel the switch under the cooling-off period rules and It should stop the switch process and you’ll simply stay with your current supplier.
- If you've already been switched to the new supplier. Contact the new supplier to cancel – you should then be given the option to switch back to your original provider on the same (or similar terms) as your were on before you applied to switch.
You can also sign up to a different deal from the new supplier, or to any other supplier on the market, if you prefer.
If you do nothing, after 15 working days you'll be moved onto the new supplier's standard variable tariff.
Renting? On electricity-only? Prepay for your energy? You can still switch
If you rent your home you're free to switch providing you pay the energy supplier directly (rather than paying your landlord – in this case, you’ll have to ask your landlord to do switch).
You don't need to own the property to switch, and you don't need to ask your landlord's permission (though it's worth checking your tenancy agreement just in case it's a breach). Don't just stick with the previous tenant's gas or electricity firm, it's always worth checking if there's a better deal. And always do a meter reading as soon as you move in.
Even if your tenancy agreement bans switching, Ofgem's guidance states if you pay the energy bill directly, you're still entitled to change supplier at any time, so challenge it. Preventing a tenant from changing energy supplier may be viewed as an unfair term, so talk to Citizens Advice to see if it can help.
If you don't have a gas supply, don't think the rules are different. If you only have electricity, you can still switch your energy supplier. Most deals are also available as electricity-only tariffs. You can use our Cheap Energy Club to do a comparison of the top deals.
The same is true if you have an Economy 7 meter and tariff (which gives a cheaper electricity rate at night and a more expensive one in the day). These tariffs are mainly for those who use night time storage heaters to heat their home and water. However, providers' day and night rates do vary massively, so always check which one's best for you based on your usage.
If you prepay for your energy, switching is essentially the same as it is for those that pay by direct debit. However, there are very few fixes and other switchers' deals for those on prepay – most providers only have their standard variable tariff available.
The good news is that in July 2023, the Government committed to ending the 'prepay premium' (where prepay users paid higher rates under the Price Cap). As such, those on prepayment meters now pay 3% less on average for their energy on the Cap, compared to those who pay by Direct Debit.
Yet as all the big discounts are thrown out to win new Direct Debit customers, it's highly likely Direct Debit will stay the overall cheapest option for people who switch energy tariffs. For those who don't, it'll be prepay.
If you do want to regularly switch energy deals, it's worth seeing if you're able to switch to a credit meter. For full info, see our Prepaid gas & electricity guide.
On a fix? You can switch penalty-free in the last 49 days of your deal
Under Ofgem rules, suppliers can't charge exit fees in the last seven weeks of fixed-term deals. So if you're near the end of a fix, you won't have to pay a fee to leave it and move to a new tariff – provided you start your switch within the last 49 days of your current deal.
Check with your supplier how much your exit fee is (if any), and what's the earliest date you can switch without paying this. You even might save more by switching, even if you do have to pay an exit fee, but make sure to check this first.
When your fixed tariff ends, you’ll usually automatically be put onto your supplier's standard variable tariff.
On a heat network? You can't switch your heating provider – but you can still switch electricity
If your home is part of a heat network, you don't have a choice of which company supplies your heating and hot water – it will usually be your building owner or a company appointed by them.
As heat networks only supply heating and hot water, you should be able to switch your electricity supplier if you want to – you can do an electricity-only comparison via our Cheap Energy Club. But bear in mind, some blocks of flats have a communal electricity supply via the building owner.
Switched your energy recently? Check if you’re owed a refund
If you switch energy firms and you're in credit, you're due the cash back. Your previous supplier should pay this automatically following your final bill, yet for years many energy firms pocketed the cash.
While it has improved in recent times, it could be worth checking if you're owed anything from old suppliers.
Plus, your credit must be refunded within 10 days of you receiving your final bill or you'll be owed compensation on top.
What if something goes wrong?
While most energy switching should be fairly smooth, problems can happen occasionally. If you do experience an issue with your provider, or while switching, there are a number of rules in place to protect you.
Had a switching problem? You may be entitled to automatic compensation
What you get depends on the problem, but automatic compensation is available for the following issues:
- If your switch takes longer than five working days to complete
- If your supplier takes longer than six weeks to send your final bill
- If your supplier takes longer than 10 working days after your final bill to issue a credit refund
- If you are switched to another supplier by mistake
You'll usually get £30 for each issue you experience, and while the compensation should be automatic, the supplier can only pay you if it can identify an issue in the first place, so if you think you're eligible, contact your supplier to make a claim.
You usually can’t be billed for energy used more than a year ago
Back-billing usually happens when suppliers estimate bills as they don't have regular, accurate meter readings. Once they have the meter readings, they may then send a catch-up bill if the estimated bill is too low.
However, since 2018, energy firms are not allowed to bill you for energy used more than 12 months ago – as long as it's not your fault that you've not paid the right amount. This includes if the firm has used estimates to bill you rather than actual meter readings and there's a discrepancy.
Ofgem’s backbilling rules apply to all payment methods, regardless of the payment type, meter mode or meter arrangements. This also includes situations where a supplier increases your Direct Debit because it was set too low.
Scenarios which could be deemed to be your fault include if you've prevented the company from taking accurate meter readings or have been stealing energy. Ofgem says energy companies will decide on a case-by-case basis if the back-billing ban applies.
What happens if my energy company goes bust?
More than 20 energy firms have gone bust since the energy crisis began in September 2021, affecting millions of households. First of all, don't panic – you're never at risk of losing your energy supply, and any credit you're owed will be returned. The primary risk is you'll lose your current deal if your supplier goes bust, and will likely end up paying more.
Under regulator Ofgem's safety net rules, when a supplier fails a new one is appointed to take over, and once it does you'll usually be moved on to its standard tariff – which follows Ofgem's Energy Price Cap. However, you're free to switch away without exit fees once your new account is set up, so make sure you do a comparison to check if there's anything cheaper once this is done.
If your account is in credit when the supplier goes bust, the new supplier will either pay it to you or add it to your new account to pay for future energy use once it takes over your supply.
The energy industry isn't known for having great customer service across the board, and while a provider may be good for some, it can be hell for others. Common problems include incorrect bills, switching issues, Direct Debits being too high, refund delays and more.
It's always worth trying to call your provider to sort the issue first, but if not then you can use free complaints tool Resolver. The tool helps you manage your complaint, and if the company doesn't play ball, it also helps you escalate your complaint to the free Energy Ombudsman.
Top tips to cut energy bills
While energy deals are slowly returning, you can no longer save £100s a year like you could before the energy crisis began. But there are still things you can do to lower your bills and keep costs down.
More energy switching FAQs
We've answered some more commonly asked energy switching questions below. For more, see our full Cheap Energy Club FAQs.
Have your say in our forum!
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