How to Switch Electricity Supplier: Step-by-Step Guide

Can you switch electricity supplier?

Most households that pay an electricity supplier directly can switch supplier or tariff. In Great Britain, Ofgem says you can choose to switch at any time, although a fixed deal may charge an exit fee if you leave early. Citizens Advice says suppliers should not charge an exit fee when a fixed tariff has 49 days or less left.

You cannot choose the supplier yourself if your landlord pays the supplier and includes electricity in your rent. Heat-network customers also cannot switch in the usual way. If you rent but pay the supplier directly, you can normally switch; check the tenancy agreement for any notice or return clause.

Step 1: collect the figures from your current bill

Use a recent bill or online account to find your supplier, tariff name, contract end date, unit rate in pence per kWh, daily standing charge, annual electricity use and any exit fee. If the annual-use figure is estimated, compare it with actual meter readings before relying on it.

Check how you pay and whether you have a single-rate, Economy 7, other time-of-use or prepayment tariff. A deal that looks cheap for a standard meter may not be available for your meter or may be poor value for your pattern of peak and off-peak use.

• Annual kWh use and whether it is based on actual readings.
• Unit rate, standing charge and any separate day or night rates.
• Tariff end date, exit fee and payment method.
• Meter type, supplier name, tariff name and MPAN.

Step 2: compare the whole annual cost

For a single-rate tariff, estimate annual cost with: annual kWh × unit rate ÷ 100, plus 365 × daily standing charge ÷ 100. Apply the same usage to every tariff. Then add any one-off exit fee and check whether a discount is temporary or conditional.

Suppose you use 2,900 kWh a year. A hypothetical current tariff at 25p per kWh with a 55p daily standing charge costs £725 for usage plus £200.75 in standing charges, or £925.75 a year. A new tariff at 23p per kWh and 60p a day costs £667 plus £219, or £886 a year. The gross annual saving is £39.75.

If leaving the current contract costs £75, that example is £35.25 more expensive in the first year: £39.75 saving minus the £75 fee. Waiting until the fee-free switching window could make the new tariff worthwhile. These are illustrative rates, not current market offers.

For Economy 7 or another time-of-use tariff, calculate each band separately: day kWh × day rate, plus night kWh × night rate, plus the standing charge. Compare the contract, customer service, renewable claims and payment method as well as price.

Step 3: check the tariff and meter will work for you

Read the tariff terms before applying. Confirm whether rates are fixed or variable, the contract length, exit fees, payment method, billing frequency and what happens when the deal ends. A fixed tariff fixes the rates, not the total bill: using more electricity still increases the amount you pay.

Ask the new supplier whether your smart meter will continue sending readings in smart mode. If you use smart prepayment, Economy 7, storage heaters, an electric vehicle tariff or another time-of-use arrangement, confirm that the supplier supports both the meter and the required tariff before switching.

A monthly Direct Debit is a payment schedule, not the tariff cost. Compare annual costs and review the payment after switching using actual readings.

Step 4: apply to the new supplier

In Great Britain, you have a 14-day cooling-off period after agreeing the contract. Citizens Advice says you can ask to switch as soon as possible, which can take up to five working days, or arrange the switch after the cooling-off period. If you change your mind, contact the new supplier promptly.

Take and photograph a meter reading on the switch date, including every rate on a multi-rate meter. Give it to the new supplier and keep the image until both bills agree. This helps prevent the old and new suppliers charging for the same electricity.

Step 5: check the final bill and new account

Check the old supplier’s final bill against your switch reading, tariff rates and payments. Citizens Advice says the final bill should arrive within six weeks. If the account is in credit, the old supplier must refund it within 10 working days of sending the final bill.

Check that the new account starts with the same meter reading and uses the agreed tariff and payment method. Keep the contract summary and first bills.

In Great Britain, suppliers must normally complete the switch within five working days. Ofgem says the new supplier must automatically pay £40 if it misses that deadline. Separate payments can apply when a supply is switched by mistake or a supplier is late putting the problem right.

Can you switch if you owe money?

In Great Britain, Ofgem says you can still switch when the debt is less than 28 days old; it should be included in the final bill. If you have owed the supplier for more than 28 days, the supplier can block the switch until the debt is repaid.

A prepayment customer in Great Britain can switch with up to £500 of supplier debt under the debt-assignment process. Ask the new supplier whether it will accept the transfer and do not assume a switch removes the debt.

If you are struggling to pay, contact the supplier before switching. A repayment plan or affordability support may matter more than a small tariff difference.

Switching electricity supplier in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland has a separate market, so Great Britain’s five-working-day and £40 rules should not be assumed to apply. The Utility Regulator says switching itself is free, although a contract may have a cancellation charge.

The Utility Regulator states that customers have up to 10 working days to cancel after signing and that the switch should complete within 15 working days after that cooling-off period. It also says the old supplier should issue the final bill and return account or prepayment credit within six weeks.

Use the Consumer Council’s independent comparison tool or tariff tables for current Northern Ireland offers. Its tool excludes extras such as welcome credit; Economy 7 customers need the separate tables.