How to change electricity providers in the UK

You can change electricity providers at any time, and your new supplier handles the transfer — you do not need to contact your old one. Citizens Advice confirms that the new supplier is legally responsible for notifying your old supplier and arranging the switchover date.

Here is what the process looks like at a glance:

Choose a new tariff and sign up with the new supplier
Provide a current meter reading on the day you sign up
The new supplier contacts your old supplier and sets a switchover date
The switch completes, typically within five working days under the Energy Switch Guarantee
Pay your final bill from the old supplier and keep all correspondence

Two rights to know before you start: you have a 14-day cooling-off period from the day after you agree to a new contract, during which you can cancel without penalty. If the switch is not completed within five working days, your new supplier must pay you compensation automatically.

Pro Tip: Take a photograph of your meter on the exact day you sign up, with the date visible. That image is your strongest evidence if either supplier disputes the final meter reading.

Key takeaways

Switching electricity supplier in the UK is a straightforward process governed by clear statutory rights: a 14-day cooling-off period, a five-working-day completion guarantee, and automatic £40 compensation if suppliers fail to meet that standard.

Point	Details
New supplier handles the transfer	You do not need to contact your old supplier — the new one arranges everything.
Five-working-day guarantee	Domestic switches must complete within five working days under the Energy Switch Guarantee.
14-day cooling-off right	You can cancel a new contract within 14 days of agreeing it, without penalty.
Take a meter reading on switch day	A dated photograph of the meter on switchover day prevents billing disputes with both suppliers.
Exit fees waived within 49 days	Initiate a switch within 49 days of your fixed contract end date to avoid exit fees.

How do you change electricity providers step by step?
What information do you need before switching suppliers?
How long does switching electricity take?
Special cases: renters, prepayment meters, debt and fixed contracts
What to do when something goes wrong
How to choose the right tariff before you switch
Should home energy performance affect your switching decision?
An editorial perspective on switching
Sources

How do you change electricity providers step by step?

The energy provider switch process is straightforward when you follow the steps in order. Skipping steps, particularly the meter reading, is the most common cause of billing disputes.

Compare tariffs and check eligibility. Use a comparison service such as Uswitch or MoneySavingExpert’s Cheap Energy Club. Enter your postcode, meter type, and recent usage in kWh. Realistic usage figures produce accurate savings estimates — guessing high or low distorts the comparison.
Choose a tariff and sign up. The new supplier will ask for your postcode, MPAN (Meter Point Administration Number for electricity), current tariff name, annual usage, and bank details if you are paying by Direct Debit. Have your most recent bill to hand.
Decide on timing. You can request an immediate switch or schedule one for a later date. If you want to use the full 14-day cooling-off period before the switch completes, tell the new supplier — most will accommodate a delayed switchover date.
Let the new supplier manage the transfer. Once you have signed up, the new supplier contacts your old supplier and arranges the switchover date. You do not need to call your old supplier to cancel. Many consumers do this by mistake, which can create confusion over account closure and final billing.
Take a meter reading on switchover day and pay your final bill. Submit the reading to both suppliers on the day the switch completes. Your old supplier will issue a final bill based on that figure. Keep a copy of the bill and any credit balance refund confirmation.

A note on Direct Debit: if you are setting up a new Direct Debit with the incoming supplier, have your sort code and account number ready at sign-up. Some tariffs require Direct Debit as the only payment method, so check this before committing if you prefer to pay by other means.

What information do you need before switching suppliers?

Gathering the right documents before starting saves time and prevents the new supplier from putting your application on hold.

Postcode. Required to check which suppliers and tariffs serve your area.
MPAN (Meter Point Administration Number). This 21-digit number identifies your electricity supply point. Find it on your electricity bill, usually in a grid or box labelled “Supply Number” or “S” on the bottom half of the bill.
MPRN (Meter Point Reference Number). The equivalent for gas, if you are also switching gas. It appears on your gas bill near the meter details section.
Current tariff name. Printed on the first page of your bill, often near the account summary.
Annual or recent kWh usage. Your bill shows this, usually as a 12-month estimate or a rolling total. Use actual figures rather than estimates.
Meter serial number. Printed on the meter itself and sometimes on the bill. Useful if there is a dispute about which meter is being switched.
Bank details. Sort code and account number for Direct Debit setup.
Up-to-date meter reading. Take this on the day you sign up, not the day before.

Pro Tip: Photograph both your bill (showing the MPAN, tariff name, and usage) and your meter display on the same day. Store both images in a dated folder. If a smart meter is installed, check whether it is a SMETS2 model — SMETS2 meters generally retain smart functionality after a switch, whereas some older SMETS1 meters have required re-registration with the new supplier. If your smart meter stops sending automatic readings after the switch, contact the new supplier for a free resolution.

How long does switching electricity take?

Under the Energy Switch Guarantee, domestic switches normally complete within five working days. Ofgem’s switching rules set out the obligations suppliers must meet, including the five-working-day standard and the circumstances in which a switch may take longer.

The 14-day cooling-off period runs from the day after you agree to the new contract. If you switch immediately, the switchover date may fall within that window — meaning the switch could complete before the cooling-off period ends. Scheduling the switchover for after day 14 gives you the full cancellation right without affecting the switch itself.

A practical timeline example: sign up on a Monday, cooling-off ends on the following Monday, and the switch can complete by the following Friday at the latest under the five-working-day rule.

Why meter readings matter at switchover

The meter reading you submit on switchover day becomes the billing anchor for both suppliers. Your old supplier closes your account at that figure; your new supplier opens it at the same figure. Without a confirmed reading, both suppliers may use estimated reads, which can produce an inflated final bill or an opening balance dispute that takes weeks to resolve.

Submit the reading to both suppliers on the day, keep the photograph, and note the time. If you have a smart meter that is sending readings automatically, confirm with the new supplier that it has received the switchover reading before assuming the process is complete.

Common causes of switching delays

Cause	Effect on timing
Outstanding debt on the account	Switch may be blocked until debt is resolved or agreed
Prepayment meter debt above threshold	New supplier must explicitly agree to accept the debt transfer
Smart meter re-registration needed	Can add days if SMETS1 meter requires manual re-registration
Economy 7 or multi-rate meter	May need additional checks on meter configuration
Incorrect MPAN submitted	Switch is paused until the correct number is confirmed

Special cases: renters, prepayment meters, debt and fixed contracts

Not every switch follows the standard path. Several common situations change what you can do and who you need to speak to first.

Renters

Citizens Advice is clear on this: you can switch only if you pay the energy supplier directly. If your landlord pays the energy bills and recovers the cost through your rent, you cannot switch without the landlord’s agreement. Before starting any comparison, check your tenancy agreement and confirm who holds the supply account. For landlords managing multiple properties, the electricity tariffs and landlords guide on Homeenergymodel covers the relevant considerations in detail.

Prepayment meters

Prepayment meter users can switch providers, but there are conditions. Ofgem’s guidance confirms that switching is generally available to prepayment meter customers, subject to debt thresholds. If you owe money on a prepayment meter, you can still switch provided the debt is below the supplier’s threshold (commonly £500) and the new supplier explicitly agrees to accept the debt transfer. You must request this during sign-up — it does not happen automatically.

Switching with debt

Citizens Advice sets out the debt rules in detail. The 28-day billing rule applies: if a bill has been issued within the last 28 days, a supplier may block the switch until the debt is settled. For prepayment meters, the £500 threshold is the key figure. If a supplier refuses to accept a debt transfer, contact Citizens Advice for guidance on your options.

Fixed-term contracts and exit fees

Switching during a fixed-term contract usually triggers an exit fee. The 49-day window is the practical rule to know: most suppliers waive exit fees if you initiate the switch within 49 days of your contract end date. Check your contract terms for the exact figure, as exit fees vary. Factor any exit fee into your savings calculation before committing — a £50 saving over 12 months is not a saving if the exit fee is £60.

Moving home

Notify your current supplier at least 48 hours before moving day. Take a meter reading at the property on the day you leave and send it to your supplier with the date. At the new property, take a reading on the day you move in and contact the existing supplier there to set up or transfer the account. You can then switch the new property’s supply once the account is in your name.

What to do when something goes wrong

Most switches complete without incident. When they do not, there is a clear escalation path.

Switch not completed within five working days

Contact the new supplier first. Ofgem’s guaranteed standards require the new supplier to pay you £40 automatically if the switch is not completed within five working days. If the payment does not arrive, raise it formally with the new supplier in writing. Keep a record of all contact, including dates and the names of any advisers you speak to.

Erroneous transfers

An erroneous transfer occurs when your supply is switched to a new supplier without your consent. Contact both suppliers immediately and keep written records of every communication. The supplier that made the error is responsible for returning your supply and compensating you. Ofgem’s Supplier Guaranteed Standards of Performance set the compensation amounts and timelines.

If your supplier goes bust

Ofgem’s Supplier of Last Resort process protects consumers when a supplier fails. Ofgem appoints a new supplier, your energy supply continues without interruption, and any credit balance you held with the failed supplier is protected. Do not switch immediately after a supplier failure — wait for Ofgem to confirm the appointed supplier and the terms before making any decisions.

Escalating to the Energy Ombudsman

If your supplier has not resolved your complaint within eight weeks, or has issued a deadlock letter, you can refer the case to the Energy Ombudsman. The Ombudsman’s decisions are binding on suppliers. Gather all written correspondence, complaint reference numbers, and meter reading evidence before submitting.

How to choose the right tariff before you switch

A good electricity provider comparison takes about ten minutes with the right inputs. The checklist below covers the decisions that actually affect your bill.

Before you compare:

Locate your annual kWh usage from your current bill (not an estimate)
Note your meter type: standard single-rate, Economy 7, smart, or prepayment
Check whether you are within the 49-day exit-fee-free window on a fixed contract

What to compare:

Unit rate (pence per kWh). The single biggest driver of your annual cost.
Standing charge (pence per day). A fixed daily cost regardless of usage — low users should weight this carefully.
Exit fees. Check the exact figure and subtract it from any projected annual saving.
Fixed vs variable tariff. Fixed tariffs lock in your unit rate for the contract term; variable tariffs can move with the market.
Green credentials. If renewable sourcing matters, check the supplier’s fuel mix disclosure, not just marketing claims.
Customer service rating. Citizen Advice publishes a quarterly supplier performance report — worth checking before committing to a lesser-known supplier.
Payment method. Some tariffs are Direct Debit only; others accept prepayment or quarterly billing.

Uswitch and MoneySavingExpert’s Cheap Energy Club both run electricity provider comparisons using your postcode, meter type, and usage. Enter realistic kWh figures — comparison tools rely on accurate inputs, and inflated usage figures produce misleading savings estimates.

On exit fees: if you are switching mid-contract, divide the exit fee by the projected monthly saving to calculate how many months it takes to break even. A switch that breaks even in month two is worth doing; one that breaks even in month 14 of a 12-month deal is not.

Should home energy performance affect your switching decision?

Switching supplier is one lever for reducing energy costs. Home energy performance is another, and the two interact more than most guides acknowledge.

A property with poor insulation or an inefficient heating system uses more kWh regardless of who supplies it. Switching to a cheaper unit rate on a high-consumption property produces a larger absolute saving than the same switch on a well-insulated home — but it also means the underlying inefficiency continues to cost money every month. Addressing both together produces the best outcome.

For property owners and landlords, understanding a property’s energy performance through an Energy Performance Certificate gives a baseline for consumption. The Home Energy Model, which is set to replace SAP as the government’s standard assessment methodology, provides a more granular picture of where energy is being lost and what improvements would reduce demand. Lower demand changes the calculus on fixed versus variable tariffs and on whether a higher standing charge with a lower unit rate makes financial sense.

Practical steps worth considering alongside a switch:

Check your EPC rating and identify the highest-impact recommendations
Review loft and cavity wall insulation status before committing to a long fixed-term deal
Consider whether a smart meter (if not already installed) would give you the usage data to make a more accurate tariff comparison
Read Homeenergymodel’s guide on how to save money on your power bill for low-cost efficiency measures that complement a tariff switch

An editorial perspective on switching

Most guides treat switching as a purely financial transaction. The rate comparison, the exit fee calculation, the five-working-day clock — all of that matters. But the decision that tends to get overlooked is timing relative to the broader energy market cycle.

Consumers who switch reactively, prompted by a renewal notice or a price cap change, often land on a new fixed deal at the peak of a rate cycle. The 49-day exit-fee-free window exists precisely to give consumers a structured opportunity to leave before the contract rolls onto a standard variable tariff, which is almost always more expensive. Using that window proactively, rather than waiting for a renewal prompt, is the single habit that separates consumers who consistently pay less from those who do not.

There is also a case for treating the switch-day meter reading as a formal record rather than an afterthought. Billing disputes between suppliers are not rare, and the consumer who has a timestamped photograph of the meter on the exact day of the switch resolves them in minutes. The consumer who does not can spend weeks in back-and-forth correspondence. That photograph costs nothing and takes thirty seconds.

Sources

For rules, rights and complaints:

For comparing deals: