Switch energy supplier or tariff

If you’re trying to save money on your gas or electricity, you might consider either:

• switching suppliers

• switching to a different tariff with your current supplier

An energy tariff is a pricing plan for gas or electricity from your energy supplier. To help work out the best tariff for you, check the most common tariff types and what they mean.

If you want to switch tariffs, you’ll need to work out the best one for you based on your situation. You’ll need to think about how the cost of energy could change and what this would mean for your deal - it could end up costing you more.

If you have a radio teleswitch meter

If you have a time of use tariff, you might have an electricity meter that uses a radio signal to switch between peak and off-peak rates. These are called radio teleswitch (RTS) or dynamically teleswitched (DTS) meters.

You’ll need to have your RTS or DTS meter replaced. This is because the radio signal is being switched off.

Your electric heating and hot water could stop working if you don’t have your meter replaced before the radio signal is turned off.

Check if you need to replace your meter.

Check if you can switch

To check if you can switch, you need to know what energy tariff you’re on. If you don’t know, check your latest bill or log in to your online account with your current energy supplier. 

If you’re on a standard variable tariff 

If you’re on a standard variable tariff you can switch at any time.

If you’re on a fixed tariff

If you’re on a fixed tariff contract you can switch if you have 49 days or less left on your contract.

If you have 50 days or more left on your contract, you might have to pay an exit fee to leave your contract early. Contact your supplier to check.

If you’d have to pay an exit fee to switch, check:

• when you’ll be able to switch without paying an exit fee

• how much you’d save by switching

You might save more by switching, even if you have to pay an exit fee.

When your fixed tariff ends you’ll usually be automatically put on your supplier's standard variable tariff.

When you might not be able to switch

You might not be able to switch energy supplier or tariff if you owe your energy supplier money. Check what you can do if you owe your energy supplier money and you want to switch suppliers.

If you pay your landlord for your energy you won’t be able to switch yourself, you’ll have to ask your landlord to do it. Check how to manage your energy supply if your landlord pays.

If you’re on a heat network you can’t switch suppliers. If you think your bills are wrong or unfair you can contact your supplier. Check how to challenge a bill if you're on a heat network.

Check if the tariff will work for you 

If you’re thinking about switching to get a better energy deal, you should check if the tariff will work for you. 

Think about what you want from a tariff and how important it is, for example if you want:

• the cheapest tariff available

• a tariff you can leave at any time without paying an exit fee

• a tariff for people who charge an electric vehicle - this called an ‘EV tariff’

• a tariff for people who use a heat pump

• a renewable energy tariff

You can check your supplier's tariffs on their website or online app, or by contacting them. Compare your supplier’s tariffs with other suppliers’ tariffs to make sure you’re getting the best deal.

You can check other suppliers' tariffs using a price comparison website. Not all websites will show the same tariffs and suppliers, so it’s a good idea to check a few different websites. You can find a list of price comparison websites on Ofgem’s website.

If you're switching because of poor customer service from your energy supplier, you can compare the customer service ratings of different energy suppliers.

You might find it helpful to work out your monthly household budget. It might help you make a decision about the best type of tariff for you based on what you can afford. The more energy you use, the more it will cost. You can use the budget planner on the Money Helper website.

If you’re thinking of switching to a fixed tariff

A fixed tariff might be cheaper over a whole year than staying on a standard variable tariff. If the price of energy is likely to stay the same or go up, switching to a fixed tariff might save you money.

However, if the price of energy goes down, you might save money in the long term staying on a standard variable tariff.

We don’t know how the price of gas and electricity will change, you’ll need to decide the best option for you. 

If you’re budgeting and you need to know the rate you’ll be paying for your gas or electricity, you might find it helpful to switch to a fixed tariff. 

You can check what the different tariffs means and how they work.

Check your meter will work on your new tariff

Before switching to a new supplier, you should check that your gas or electric meter will work on your new tariff.

How to switch

Once you’ve decided on your new supplier you should contact them to switch - you can do this over the phone or on their website.

You don’t need to contact your current supplier and tell them you’re leaving - your new supplier will do this for you.

You’ll have a 14 day ‘cooling-off’ period during which you can cancel the switch without paying a fee. Your cooling-off period begins the day after you agree a contract with the supplier.

During the switching process you’ll be asked when you’d like to switch to your new tariff. You can either switch:

• as soon as possible after you've agreed your new contract - this could take up to 5 working days

• 5 working days after your 14 day cooling off period has ended - this might be up to 21 days after you agree your new contract

If you want to switch on a specific date, contact your new supplier to ask if you can do this. For example, if you’re coming to the end of your fixed tariff and don’t want to switch until it ends.

Take a meter reading on the day of the switch to give to your new supplier. This means they won’t charge you for energy used before the switch.

You’ll need to pay your final bill to your old supplier. They’ll send it to you within 6 weeks. If they don’t send your final bill in time, they might owe you compensation.

If you have money left on your account with your old supplier, they’ll refund you. They must refund you within 10 working days of sending you the final bill. If they don’t refund you in time, they might owe you compensation.

Check if your old supplier owes you money.

If you want to cancel your switch

If you want to cancel your switch you should tell the supplier you’re switching to as soon as possible.

If you haven’t been switched yet they’ll stop it happening. You’ll stay with your old supplier.

If you have been switched and you’re still in your cooling off period, tell your new supplier you want to cancel. They should explain your options as soon as they can. You’ll have 15 working days from when they explain your options to:

• agree a new contract with your new supplier

• agree a new contract with your old supplier on ’equivalent terms’ to your old contract - this means agreeing to terms and conditions similar to those you had before switching

• agree a new contract with a different supplier

If you don’t do anything, after 15 working days you’ll be put on a ‘deemed’ contract with your new supplier - this is a standard variable tariff.

If you return to your old supplier they have to offer you similar terms to your old contract within 16 working days. The 16 days start the day you switched to your new supplier.

Your new supplier must continue to supply your energy until you agree to a different contract with them, or a new contract with a different supplier. You'll need to pay for the energy you use.

If you want to switch after the 14 day cooling off period has ended, you might have to pay a fee to leave early. Contact your supplier to check. 

If there’s a delay with switching suppliers

You might get compensation from your energy supplier. How long your supplier has to switch your energy supply depends on when you asked for your switch to happen.

If you asked to switch as soon as possible, you should be switched to the new supplier within 5 working days.

If you agree the contract before 5pm on a working day, the 5 days starts on that day.

If you agree the contract at any other time, the 5 days starts on the next working day.

If you asked to switch at the end of your 14-day cooling-off period, you should be switched to the new supplier within 5 working days. This starts on the working day after the cooling-off period ends.

A working day is any day from Monday to Friday that isn’t a bank holiday. For example, Good Friday isn’t a working day.

If you haven't been switched within 5 working days, contact the supplier to check they have the information they need. If they do, they should automatically pay you £30.

Your supplier should pay you the £30 within 10 working days. They'll either send you a cheque or pay directly into your bank account.

You can complain to the supplier if they don't pay this.

If you need more advice about compensation, contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline.

Further help

Contact the Citizens Advice consumer service if you need more help - a trained adviser can give you advice over the phone or online chat.

If you’re struggling to pay your energy bills or top up your prepayment meter you might be able to get extra help. Check if you can get grants and benefits to help pay your energy bills.