How to switch electricity supplier in England

Start with your annual usage, then compare the whole cost.

The answer in 2 lines. Choose a suitable tariff and ask the new supplier to arrange the switch. Compare the unit rate, standing charge, payment method and exit conditions using the same annual consumption. Keep the written offer and take a meter reading when the supply transfers. Switching supplier does not normally interrupt your electricity supply or require a replacement meter, although a particular tariff may have meter requirements.

The steps, in order

Find your latest bill and annual electricity consumption in kWh. Note your tariff, payment method, unit rate, standing charge and any exit fee.
Request written offers using that same consumption. Compare the estimated annual cost as well as contract conditions.
Check your meter and payment method are compatible, then contact your chosen supplier to arrange the change.
Keep confirmation of the transfer date, photograph the meter reading and check the closing bill against the new account.

Stop: danger

Switch you did not authorise: contact your existing supplier using the details on your bill. Ask it to investigate an erroneous transfer; do not accept an unfamiliar caller's explanation without checking.

Compare more than the monthly payment

A monthly payment can be an estimate rather than the actual price of your electricity. Ask what happens if your consumption changes, whether the payment is reviewed and whether the quote includes VAT.

A fixed tariff fixes the agreed rates for its term; your total bill still depends on usage. A variable tariff can change. Time-of-use offers need particular care: check when each rate applies and whether your household can use electricity at those times.

Use the Citizens Advice tariff guide to identify the tariff type before comparing written terms. Ask each supplier to explain any condition you cannot find in the offer, including meter installation, payment requirements and early departure.

Who arranges the change?

The new supplier manages the transfer. Keep your existing account arrangements in place until the closing balance is clear. Switching does not erase outstanding charges.

The Ofgem switching guide lists the information to provide, including your postcode, current tariff and annual consumption. Use its debt section if money owed may prevent a transfer, rather than assuming your application has been accepted.

Check the supply address carefully, especially in a converted building. A correct postal address and a clear meter photograph can help resolve confusion about which supply is being transferred.

What not to do

Comparing a new quote based on low consumption with an existing bill based on your actual use.
Assuming every fixed tariff can be left without an exit fee.
Agreeing to an unfamiliar offer under pressure before receiving the terms.
Assuming a new supplier will automatically support every feature of your existing meter.

Timing, cancellation and the final bill

The rules checked in 2026 provide a fourteen-day cooling-off period. If you request the earliest transfer, it should normally happen within five working days; you can instead request a transfer after cooling-off. Ask for the chosen timing in writing.

For fixed tariffs, Citizens Advice says an exit fee may apply when more than forty-nine days remain. Check before committing. The old supplier should issue its final bill within six weeks, and refund remaining credit within ten working days of that bill.

Follow the Citizens Advice switching instructions to cancel or check a missing closing bill. Keep readings and account statements until both accounts reconcile.

If the switch goes wrong

Send the supplier your agreed transfer date, account reference and correspondence, and request a written explanation. Ofgem's current 2026 guidance gives £40 as the standard compensation for a qualifying delayed switch. Eligibility depends on the circumstances; ask the supplier to assess your case.

For an unauthorised transfer, follow the erroneous-transfer section of the Ofgem guide: tell the old supplier and request restoration of the correct account. Keep disputed charges identifiable rather than ignoring correspondence.

Good to know

If you rent and pay the energy supplier directly, you can generally choose your supplier. Check your tenancy's notification requirements.
If your landlord buys the electricity and charges you for it, you cannot arrange that supplier's switch yourself.
These retail switching arrangements apply in Great Britain, including Wales and Scotland. Northern Ireland has a separate market and regulator.

An illustrative case: Priya in Birmingham receives a quote showing a lower monthly payment. She asks for the annual calculation and discovers it assumes less electricity than she uses. She requests a corrected quote, checks her existing exit fee and meter compatibility, then chooses a transfer date. Her saved reading helps her check the final bill.

A made-up story, for illustration.

Bobby

Sources, verification, confidence

Verified on 6 November 2026, for England. Confidence: high for the switching process and published consumer protections; medium for individual savings, meter compatibility and compensation eligibility. Figures describe rules checked in 2026, not a forecast of energy prices.