Why is this important?
Switching gas or electricity supplier
A lot of companies supply gas and electricity. They need to compete with each other to get your business. This means there are often good deals around and you could save money by switching suppliers
This page provides a handy checklist of the steps you need to take to switch energy supplier.
Top tips
When you’re switching energy supplier, price isn’t the only thing you should think about.
It's also important to compare service standards, types of contract and customer satisfaction scores.
Before you switch
Before you switch supplier, follow these steps to ensure you choose the right supplier for you:
- work out how much you currently pay for your gas and electricity
- check the terms and conditions with your current supplier to see if there is a penalty for cancelling your current contract – this is likely to be the case if you have a fixed term or fixed price contract
- work out what kind of tariff suits you best
- compare the different tariffs from different suppliers
- think about other aspects of service such as how the supplier deals with complaints, any incentives or discounts, or fixed charges
- find out about who to contact and what happens when you switch.
- More help on what to look for when choosing a supplier
- More help with comparing prices offered by different energy suppliers
When you’ve chosen who to switch to
To ensure your switch goes smoothly, follow these steps:
- contact the new supplier and ask to switch. They will give you a date when your supply will be switched
- tell your current supplier that you are switching to the new supplier
- on the day of the switch, your new supplier will ask for a meter reading, to ensure you are billed at the right time for the right amount
- your new supplier will pass this reading onto your old supplier for them to bill you for any outstanding money you owe
- your new supplier will let you know the date when your contract with them will begin
- get contact numbers for both suppliers in case you need to call either of them during the process.
How long does switching take?
The switching process normally around three weeks, plus 14 days if there is a cooling-off period. Both energy suppliers should work together to ensure it happens smoothly.
If you have any problems during the process, try to sort it out with the suppliers first. If you still need help, you can contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline.
Next steps
- If your energy supplier refuses to let you switch because you owe them money
- If you’ve changed your mind about switching
- If you need more help
More information
- How to switch energy suppliers - Ofgem at: www.ofgem.gov.uk