Your cooling off period when you switch energy supplier
Switch energy supplier and change your mind two days later? You’re not stuck. Every domestic gas and electricity switch in the UK comes with a legal cooling off period, and no supplier is allowed to write it out of your contract, however persuasive the sign up call was.
It’s one of the quieter consumer protections in the energy market, mostly because you only ever need it once you’ve already had second thoughts. Worth knowing the rules before that moment arrives, not during it.
How long is the cooling off period for energy switching?
14 calendar days. That’s the statutory minimum set for gas and electricity contracts, and it starts on the day you actually sign up, not the day supply switches over. It applies whether you signed online, over the phone, or at your door, and a supplier can’t shorten it, even if you agreed to something in a rush.
What happens if you cancel during the cooling off period?
Cancel within the window and the switch is simply treated as if it never happened. No exit fee, no penalty, and your supply carries on with your existing supplier as normal.
Cooling off period at a glance, checked August 2026
| Within the cooling off period | After it ends | |
| Length | 14 calendar days from signing | Standard contract terms apply |
| Cost to cancel | None | Exit fee may apply, if your contract has one |
| How to cancel | Contact the new supplier by phone, online form or live chat | Standard switch or complaint process instead |
| Effect | Switch is cancelled, you stay with your existing supplier | You’re committed to the new contract |
To cancel, contact the new supplier directly, not your old one, since it’s the new supplier who needs to stop the switch going through. A phone call, online form or live chat message is usually enough, and they should confirm the cancellation back to you.
Does the cooling off period apply to every kind of switch?
Yes, to standard domestic switches between suppliers. It’s a legal requirement, not something individual suppliers opt into, so you shouldn’t need to ask for it specially or read the small print to confirm it exists.
Business energy contracts work differently and often don’t carry the same statutory cooling off protection, so this guide is specifically about household gas and electricity.
What if you’ve missed the cooling off period?
Once the 14 days have passed, you can still leave, but ordinary contract terms apply from that point, which may include an exit fee depending on your deal. Fixed tariffs are more likely to carry one than variable ones, so check your terms before assuming either way.
Missing the window isn’t a disaster. It just means a straightforward cancellation turns into a normal switch, with whatever costs and notice period your contract actually specifies.
Why does the cooling off period exist at all?
It traces back to wider consumer protection law covering contracts signed at a distance or away from a trader’s premises, not something Ofgem invented specifically for energy. The logic is straightforward: sign up conversations, especially on the phone or doorstep, can move fast, and a cooling off period gives you a proper chance to check the numbers once the pressure’s off.
That’s particularly relevant in energy, where a switch is sold on projected savings that can be hard to verify on the spot. A pushy sales call promising the world is exactly the scenario the cooling off period was built to protect against.
It’s worth remembering the protection exists even when nothing’s gone wrong. Reading your new contract properly during those 14 days, rather than filing it away, is the whole point of having the window in the first place.
Key takeaways
- The cooling off period for energy switching is 14 calendar days from the day you sign up.
- It’s a legal minimum that can’t be waived or shortened by any supplier.
- Cancelling within the window costs nothing and simply undoes the switch.
- Contact the new supplier, not your old one, to cancel.
- After the cooling off period ends, normal contract terms and any exit fees apply.
If you’re outside the cooling off period and weighing up whether leaving is worth it, our guide to energy exit fees breaks down what you might owe, and how to switch energy supplier covers the process end to end. For the official position, Ofgem publishes current guidance for consumers.
Frequently asked questions about the energy cooling off period
- Does the cooling off period apply if I switch in person at my door?
- Yes. The 14 day cooling off period applies regardless of whether you signed up online, by phone or at your door.
- Can a supplier refuse to honour the cooling off period?
- No. It’s a legal requirement, not a goodwill gesture, so a supplier can’t refuse to cancel a switch made within the window.
- Do I get charged anything if I cancel within the cooling off period?
- No. Cancelling within the 14 days should cost nothing and leaves your existing supply unaffected.
- What’s the difference between the cooling off period and an exit fee?
- The cooling off period lets you cancel a brand new switch for free within 14 days. An exit fee is a separate charge that can apply later if you leave an existing fixed contract early.
- Where does the 14 day cooling off period come from legally?
- It stems from wider consumer contract regulations covering distance and off premises sales, applied to energy switching rather than being an energyspecific invention.
