Compare gas and electricity tariffs for your home or business, then switch supplier online if you find an option that suits your needs.
At EnergySwitch.co.uk, we make it easy to compare business energy and home energy tariffs from the best UK providers and switch energy suppliers in minutes. With the ever-increasing cost of energy, it’s essential to find ways to save money on your bills.
Here’s what you need to do to switch energy suppliers:
Energy switching is the process of changing your energy supplier or tariff in order to lower your utility bills. Once you’ve decided who your next energy provider is going to be, you simply need to click on the deal and confirm your choice. We will get to work right away to ensure the energy switching process is started promptly. You’ll have a 14-day cooling-off period, just in case you change your mind, and suppliers must complete the switch within 5 working days, so it won’t take long until you see a saving on your bills.
If you’re responsible for paying your energy bills, you can switch your energy supplier in minutes. However, there are different contracts and different types of tariffs for domestic customers (households) and business customers.
If you’re currently tied into a fixed rate deal, there may be an exit fee if you wish to leave the contract early. However, many people choose to switch to a new tariff or energy supplier as one deal ends, as this is often the most cost-effective option
To switch energy suppliers for a better deal in the UK, compare tariffs online using EnergySwitch, choose a new provider, and sign up. Your new supplier will handle the switch, which suppliers must complete within 5 working days, with no disruption to your supply.
The best time to switch gas and electricity is when your fixed tariff ends or if you’re on a standard variable tariff. Switching before your contract ends avoids higher out-of-contract rates, but check if an exit fee applies.
Switching energy suppliers involves comparing deals, signing up with a new supplier, and letting them manage the transfer. Suppliers must complete the switch within 5 working days (or within 5 working days after your cooling-off period ends, if you choose to wait), and there’s a 14-day cooling-off period if you change your mind, as explained by Ofgem.
Yes, you can switch your energy supply with a prepayment meter, though your tariff options may be limited. Some suppliers offer better prepayment deals or may upgrade your meter to a credit meter if eligible; visit Citizens Advice for more details.
No, switching energy suppliers won’t affect your gas and electricity supply. The change is administrative; your energy comes from the same network without interruption.
Switching energy suppliers won’t cause an interruption to your gas or electricity supply. If a power cut happens, it’s due to network issues, not the switch process; contact your local network operator.
No, you don’t need a smart meter to switch energy suppliers. If you have one, check if it will stay in smart mode with the new supplier or revert to standard readings.
If your landlord pays the energy bills, they control the supplier choice. You can’t switch unless your tenancy agreement states you’re responsible for the energy supply.
A fixed-rate tariff locks in your unit price for a set period, protecting you from price increases. A variable tariff can change at any time, usually following wholesale energy prices or the price cap.
Fixed deals can be cheaper than price-capped tariffs if you lock in rates below the price cap. However, they may include exit fees if you switch before the deal ends.
To find the cheapest deal for gas and electricity, use a comparison site like us by entering your postcode and energy usage to see tailored offers.
A tracker tariff follows wholesale energy prices, meaning your bills can rise or fall monthly. It suits those willing to accept price changes for potential savings when market prices drop.
A dual fuel energy deal combines gas and electricity from the same supplier. It may offer convenience and discounts, but always compare it to separate gas and electricity deals for savings.
The energy price cap, set by Ofgem, limits the maximum unit rates and standing charges suppliers can charge on default tariffs. It doesn’t cap your total bill, which depends on how much energy you use.
Your energy bill includes a standing charge (a daily fixed fee) and unit rates (the price per kWh of gas and electricity used). Both costs vary by supplier and tariff.
A fixed-price tariff locks your rates for a set period. A green energy tariff sources some or all electricity from renewable sources; it can be fixed or variable in price.
Electricity-only tariffs with an Economy 7 meter charge lower rates at night and higher during the day. Storage heaters use cheaper overnight electricity to store heat for daytime use.
Paying by direct debit is usually cheaper because suppliers offer discounts for automated payments, reducing admin costs and ensuring bills are paid on time.
You can still switch energy suppliers if you’re in debt under £500 on a prepayment meter. If you owe more or use a credit meter, you may need to repay debt before switching; see Citizens Advice for support options.
If you switch suppliers with an unpaid balance, you’ll still owe your old supplier. They will send a final bill and may arrange a payment plan or transfer the debt under some schemes.
Written by: EnergySwitch editorial team · Last reviewed: 31 October 2026
From 1 October to 31 December 2026, Ofgem’s energy price cap for a typical Direct Debit dual-fuel household in Great Britain is about £1,723 a year. That illustration assumes medium use of about 2,500 kWh of electricity and 9,500 kWh of gas a year. Your own bill still depends on how much you use, your region and how you pay. On the same period’s Great Britain average Direct Debit rates, electricity is about 26.32p/kWh with a standing charge of about 54.83p a day, and gas is about 7.97p/kWh with a standing charge of about 29.68p a day. Regional rates differ, so check the figures for your area.
The cap limits the unit rates and standing charges suppliers can charge on default (standard variable) tariffs. It does not freeze your total bill, and it does not stop suppliers offering fixed deals above or below those rates. VAT on domestic electricity is zero-rated from 1 October 2026 (Budget measures extend that cut into 2027); gas keeps 5% VAT. For the official rates, standing charges and what the cap does and does not cover, see our energy price cap hub, the standing charges October 2026 guide and VAT off electricity.
Ofgem has not announced the January–March 2027 price cap. It says it will do so by 25 November 2026. Until then, supplier and consultancy forecasts are useful context only — they are not official. As of late October 2026, published figures for a typical Direct Debit dual-fuel bill ranged from Cornwall Insight near £1,999 through to EDF’s £2,192 scenario (EDF tables last updated 26 October 2026), which is about 27% above today’s £1,723 illustration. We list dates, sources and caveats on the January 2027 forecast tracker and unpack EDF’s number in the EDF 27% January guide.
If you are on a fixed deal, a January cap change does not alter your rates until the fix ends. If you are on a default tariff, your rates move with whatever Ofgem sets. Compare any fixed offer against the capped rates for your usage — see cheapest energy deals and our guide on whether to fix before winter 2026.
In the 28 October 2026 Budget, the government said household gas standing charges will be removed for around 23 million homes, with Ofgem asked to deliver this in 2027 or as soon as possible after. Those fixed costs move onto the gas unit rate, so lower users tend to gain and higher users can pay more. Treasury modelling says about 60% of households could save an average of around £45 a year — that is an average among those who gain, not a flat £108 cut for everyone. Electricity standing charges were not removed in that announcement. The reform does not rewrite today’s £1,723 cap or cancel an expected January wholesale-driven rise. Full detail: Budget 2026 gas standing charges scrapped.
Supply should not cut off because of a switch — the change is administrative on the same network. You do not need a smart meter. Prepayment customers can often switch, though choice can be narrower. If you are in debt, rules differ by meter type and amount — see switching in debt or credit and the full how to switch energy supplier hub. Moving home has its own steps: moving home energy supplier.
A fixed tariff locks unit rates (and often standing charges) for a set period. A default tariff follows the Ofgem cap and can change when Ofgem resets the levels. Fixing can protect you if capped rates rise, but you may pay an exit fee to leave early, and a fix that looks cheap against today’s cap can look expensive if wholesale prices fall. There is no single right answer for every household — compare the total cost for your kWh, including exit fees, and check when any current fix ends. Our winter fix guide and the forecast tracker above set out the trade-offs without promising a saving.
If you struggle to pay, contact your supplier early — Ofgem expects suppliers to discuss affordable repayment plans. The Warm Home Discount for winter 2026/27 is a £150 electricity rebate for eligible households (for example where you or your partner receive certain benefits such as Pension Credit or Universal Credit, subject to the scheme rules). Eligibility and how to claim are in our Warm Home Discount 2026/27 guide. For how standing charges and unit rates sit in a typical bill, see the energy bill breakdown under the price cap.
The Budget did not scrap the Boiler Upgrade Scheme or change listed grant amounts. It said the scheme stays at about £400 million in 2027-28, rising broadly with inflation, while £1 billion of capital grant is saved from the wider Warm Homes Plan. On 28 October 2026, GOV.UK and Ofgem still listed £7,500 towards many air-source or ground-source heat pumps in England and Wales (with an extra £1,500 for some off-gas homes until 31 March 2027). Read the update: Boiler Upgrade Scheme after the Budget.
Household default tariffs sit under the retail price-cap framework. Business meters do not. Micro and SME contracts are negotiated, often with different standing charges, pass-through costs and renewal terms. If you pay for a business supply, start from business energy comparison rather than a domestic quote, and see micro-business energy contracts for what to watch at renewal.
Not every home is on a standard single-rate credit meter. Economy 7 and other time-of-use meters charge different electricity rates by time of day, which changes how you compare deals. Prepayment customers can usually switch, but the menu of tariffs is often shorter, and standing charges can feel heavier when you top up. Our October prepayment vs Direct Debit guide and the standing-charges pages explain the current capped rates. If Ofgem later designs a formal time-of-use price cap, we will update the Economy 7 / time-of-use review. Always compare using your own meter type and usage, not a headline dual-fuel illustration alone.
Ready to compare? Check live household tariffs against the capped SVT for your usage.
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EnergySwitch is an independent UK comparison and guidance site. We do not claim Ofgem Confidence Code accreditation. Figures above were checked against Ofgem and GOV.UK sources as dated in the linked guides. We will update the price-cap and forecast lines when Ofgem announces January–March 2027 rates.