How do you change electricity supplier?
To change electricity supplier, you pick a new tariff, give the new supplier a few details from your bill, and it does the rest. You don’t have to ring your old supplier to break the news.
That really is most of it. The hard part isn’t the switch, it’s getting round to it. Plenty of us sit on the same tariff for years without checking, and that habit is exactly what the system relies on.
Below is each step in order, what Ofgem says has to happen once you’ve asked to switch, and the few things that can hold a switch up.
What you need before you change electricity supplier
Ofgem lists the details a new supplier will ask for. Almost all of them are on your latest bill or in your online account:
- your postcode
- the name of your current supplier
- the name of your current tariff
- what you pay per unit of energy, in kilowatt hours (kWh)
- how much energy you use in a year
The yearly usage figure is the one to hunt down. A quote built on your real usage is a much better estimate than one built on a typical home. If you can’t find it, a comparison tool can guess from the size of your home, but treat that result as rough.
While you’ve got the bill out, check whether your current deal is fixed or variable, and when it ends. Our guide to reading your energy bill shows where each of these lives.
How to change electricity supplier, step by step
1. Compare tariffs
Ofgem’s advice is to compare tariffs to find the right one for you, and it says plainly that the best option may be with your current supplier. You can go to suppliers one by one or use a comparison site.
Before you change electricity supplier, look at the unit rate and the standing charge together, not just the yearly total, and check how long any fixed price lasts. If service matters as much as price, Ofgem points to the Citizens Advice ranking of the largest suppliers, which looks at things like complaints and how long you wait on the phone.
2. Sign up with the new supplier
Pick a deal, sign up and hand over the details above. When you change electricity supplier this way, the new supplier gets in touch to tell you when it plans to move your supply over. You don’t have to chase your old one.
3. Take a meter reading
Take a reading around the switch date and snap a photo of the meter. Your old supplier’s final bill and your new supplier’s first bill should both start from that number, and a dated photo ends any argument quickly.
4. Check the final bill
Your old supplier sends a final bill once you’ve gone. Check the closing reading matches yours. If you’re in credit, ask for it back rather than leaving it parked with a company you’ve just left. Our guide to getting your refund after switching covers what to do if it’s slow to arrive.
How long does it take to change electricity supplier?
Ofgem says suppliers must move your electricity or gas supply from your old supplier to your new one within 5 working days. If they don’t, your new supplier must pay you £40, paid automatically into your energy account or your bank account.
You also get a cooling off period. If you change your mind, Ofgem says you can cancel the switch within 14 days.
Switches can go wrong the other way too. If your supply is moved without your permission, Ofgem says you could get £40, and you need to contact your old supplier to tell it. It should pay within 10 working days of agreeing a mistake was made, and it has 21 working days to switch you back.
Will I pay a fee to change electricity supplier?
Possibly, if you’re on a fixed deal. Ofgem says you may have to pay your previous supplier an exit fee if you were on a fixed rate tariff and chose to leave before it ended. Your contract will say whether one applies and how much it is.
Timing can make it disappear. Ofgem has said that under supplier licence conditions, a customer is generally entitled to switch during the 49 days before a fixed deal ends, or after it, without paying an exit fee. So if your fix ends within the next seven weeks, that’s the moment to look.
If a fee does apply, it isn’t automatically a reason to stay put. Weigh the fee against the estimated difference in cost over the rest of your deal, using your own usage. Our guide to energy exit fees walks through that sum.
Can I change electricity supplier if I rent or owe money?
Usually, yes. Ofgem says that if you pay the energy bills in a rented home, you can switch supplier or tariff at any time. Before you change electricity supplier as a tenant, check your rental agreement for three things:
- a list of suppliers you have to choose from, called a default supplier clause, and whether it can be changed
- whether you need to tell your landlord or letting agent first
- a notice and return clause, which means switching back to the original supplier when your tenancy ends
If your landlord pays the bills, Ofgem says they should deal with the supplier directly and include the cost of your energy in your rent.
Debt has clearer rules. Ofgem says you can still switch if you’ve owed your old supplier money for less than 28 days, with the amount added to your final bill, or if you have a prepayment meter and owe up to £500. If you’ve been in debt to your supplier for more than 28 days, you need to repay it before you can change electricity supplier.
One group can’t switch at all. If you’re on a heat network, the supplier manages the heating equipment for the whole building, so Ofgem says you can’t change supplier.
Key takeaways
- When you change electricity supplier, the new supplier handles the switch. You don’t need to contact your old one.
- Ofgem says the switch must happen within 5 working days, or the new supplier pays you £40 automatically.
- You can cancel a switch within 14 days.
- Exit fees are for leaving a fixed deal early, and Ofgem says they generally don’t apply in the 49 days before a fix ends.
- Debt of less than 28 days, or up to £500 on a prepayment meter, doesn’t stop you switching.
Frequently asked questions about how to change electricity supplier
- Do I need to tell my old supplier I’m switching?
- No. You give your details to the new supplier, and it contacts you to say when it plans to move your supply over.
- Can I cancel a switch once I’ve signed up?
- Yes. Ofgem says you can cancel your switch within 14 days if you change your mind.
- What happens if my switch takes longer than 5 working days?
- Ofgem says your new supplier must pay you £40, paid automatically into your energy account or bank account.
- Can I switch on a prepayment meter if I owe money?
- Yes, if you owe your supplier up to £500, according to Ofgem.
- What if my supplier goes bust while I’m switching?
- Ofgem says your move won’t be affected. If you’re not switching, Ofgem moves you to a new supplier automatically and your supply isn’t interrupted.
Doing nothing feels free, but it’s still a choice. If your deal has ended or is about to, the new supplier does the legwork when you change electricity supplier. Your job is the comparing.
Sources
- Ofgem: Switch your home energy supplier
- Ofgem press release, 29 August 2018, on exit fees and the switching window
Switching rules checked on Ofgem’s website on 10 November 2026.
