The short version
General information, not advice
- Suppliers must complete your switch within 5 working days.
- You can cancel within 14 days.
- If the switch is late, you're owed £40, paid automatically.
- Your supply stays on the whole time. The new supplier handles everything, including telling the old one.
What happens, and when
- You choose a new tariffDay 0
- The switch completesWithin 5 working days
- Last day to cancelDay 14
- Final bill from your old supplierAfter the switch
Your gas and electricity stay on throughout. Only the name on the bill changes.
Before you switch
- Check for an exit fee. If you're on a fixed tariff that hasn't ended, your old supplier may charge you to leave. The fee is on your bill or in your tariff details.
- Have a recent bill to hand. Your annual usage in kWh gives you an accurate comparison. The postcode alone gives an estimate.
- Take a meter reading on switch day, with a photo. It settles any dispute about your old supplier's final bill.
- In credit with the old supplier? It must refund you after the final bill. Ofgem says within 10 working days of that bill.
Get a reminder before your deal ends
We’ll email you about two months before, early enough to compare before your provider’s own letter arrives.
If you rent, owe money or have a prepayment meter
If you pay the energy bills, you can usually switch, even if you rent. Check your tenancy agreement first. Some list the suppliers you can choose from, some say you must switch back when you move out, and some ask you to tell your landlord or letting agent. Owing money doesn't always stop you either. If you've owed your supplier money for less than 28 days, it's added to your final bill. On a prepayment meter you can switch with up to £500 of debt. If you've owed money for longer than 28 days on an ordinary meter, you'll need to pay it off before you switch.
Source: Ofgem, Switch energy supplier, checked 26 September 2026.
If something goes wrong
Ofgem sets automatic compensation: £40 if your switch takes longer than 5 working days, and another £40 if that compensation isn't paid within 10 working days. If you're switched by mistake, both suppliers owe you £40 each if they take more than 20 working days to agree it was a mistake. The old supplier owes you £40 if it takes more than 21 working days to take you back. If the problem still isn't fixed, complain to the supplier. After eight weeks, or sooner if they say it's deadlocked, you can go to the Energy Ombudsman, free of charge.
Source: Ofgem, Get compensation for problems switching energy suppliers, checked 25 September 2026. Ofgem, Complaining about your energy supplier explains the eight-week and deadlock routes.
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