Switching energy providers

If you’re feeling the pinch, it’s well worth looking at your household expenses to see where you could get a better deal.

Energy is one of your biggest outgoings and one that you can’t simply make disappear.

So if you can get on a cheaper tariff, you could free up money that can be put towards food, rent and other day-to-day essentials.

It might be time to start thinking about switching if: 

• your current tariff has ended or is about to end
• you’ve never compared tariffs before
• your supplier has recently put up prices
• a dual-fuel deal (gas and electric from the same supplier) could be cheaper

There are plenty of comparison websites where you can easily see what’s on the market and how they compare with each other, such as:

• uSwitch 
• Go Compare 
• Confused.com 
• Compare the Market 
• Moneysupermarket 
• Simply Switch 
• Money Expert 
• UKPower 
• The Energy Shop 

You’ll see unbiased results, not just deals from certain companies, and get clear information about exit fees and contract terms.

Look for sites with the Ofgem Confidence Code to ensure you’re getting a full and impartial market view.

Switching doesn’t always mean saving money.

Even if it doesn’t always feel like it, you might already be on the best deal available.

So before deciding, check if you’re on a fixed-term contract.

Most suppliers charge an exit fee if you leave early.

You don’t want to be hit with extra costs when you’re trying to save money, so make sure the amount you save from switching is bigger than the exit fee.

Another option would be to ask if your current supplier can offer a better deal.

Speak to them about whether they can offer you cheaper tariffs, or if they can give you discounts for paying by direct debit.

Yes, you can still switch, even with arrears up to £500.

But your debt will move to your new supplier, and you’ll keep the prepayment meter until the debt is cleared.

Yes.

Landlords can’t stop you from changing supplier, even if your contract says otherwise.

They can’t take money from your deposit for switching unless small, agreed admin costs are written into the contract.

But your deposit could be affected if you change to a prepayment meter without permission.

Yes, you may be able to switch energy supplier depending on your meter type and the amount you owe.

If you have a prepayment meter:

• you can usually switch if your debt is £500 or less per fuel (for example, £500 for gas and £500 for electricity)
• the debt will transfer to your new supplier under the Debt Assignment Protocol, and you’ll continue to repay it

If you have a standard (credit) meter:

• you usually cannot switch if you owe money to your current supplier
• you may still be able to switch if the debt is in dispute, or if it happened because of a supplier error (for example, incorrect billing) 

If your debt is higher than £500 on a prepayment meter, you may need to repay some of it before you can switch.

Most switches happen in five working days and you’ll be given a 14-day cooling-off period to cancel without penalty.

No, your gas and electricity supply will continue as normal.

Only your billing provider changes, not the physical supply.

No, the whole process will be handled by your new supplier.

You just need to give a final meter reading when asked.

If your energy bills are piling up, or you’re worried about topping up your meter, help is available.

You might be able to:

• get emergency credit if you’re on a prepayment meter
• apply for a grant or hardship fund from your supplier
• join the Priority Services Register for extra support

You can also get in touch with us for help with managing your money or sorting out debt.

We can check you’re getting all the benefits you’re entitled to and help you create a realistic budget.

And if you owe money and are struggling with repayments, we’re here to give you debt advice.