Are you planning to switch energy suppliers? Whether you’ve recently moved house or your previous energy tariff has expired, switching to a new energy tariff is an easy way to save money and stay on top of your bills.
If you’re wondering how long the switchover process takes from start to finish, don’t panic - we’ve broken down every step of the process below.
How long does it actually take to switch energy suppliers in the UK?
The process of switching energy suppliers takes around two weeks from start to finish. There are four stages to the switchover you’ll need to work through in order.
Step One - Choosing a supplier
Perhaps the most important stage of all is choosing which energy supplier you want to switch to. There are dozens of energy suppliers operating in the UK, so finding the right one for you can be a time consuming process.
To save time and make sure you find the perfect option, book a call with one Please Connect Me’s Connection Experts. Our team can help you find a supplier based on what matters to you, whether thats:
Finding the best value tariff to save you money on your bills
Switching to a truly green and renewable energy supply
Signing up for a long term tariff that will protect you from future price increases, or a flexible tariff with no exit fees
Choosing a supplier with award-winning customer service, so you know you’re in safe hands if something does go wrong
… or something else!
Step Two - Requesting the switch
Once you’ve found the right supplier and tariff for you, it’s time to request the switch. Your new supplier will need to confirm a few details, including your contact information, full address and the serial numbers from your energy meters.
Once you’ve provided these details you’ll be told your switchover date - the day when your new supplier will take over at your address.
Step Three - Switchover day
Switchover day itself might feel like an anticlimax - nothing noticeable will change at your property on the day.
Some customers worry that when they switch energy suppliers their power will be disconnected, and that if something goes wrong they might be left without heat, light or electricity. In fact, nothing physical will change at the property, and there’s no engineer’s visit necessary.
That’s because even if your energy supplier changes, your property is still managed by the same energy distributor.
Read more about the difference between your energy supplier and energy distributor here.
All you need to do on switchover day is take a final meter reading from your gas and electric meters - you’ll need these if there’s a problem with your final bills.
Step Four - After the switch
Shortly after the switchover date you will receive two documents by email or by post - one from your new supplier confirming your new account details and one from your old supplier closing your previous account.
More than 2 million people in the UK are owed a refund from their energy supplier that they never claimed.
If you don’t have a smart meter, your previous supplier will ask you for the closing meter readings from the switchover day. Make sure to send these promptly so you can be issued your final bill - otherwise your supplier will estimate your energy usage and you could be overcharged.
Your previous supplier will send you a final bill settling up the balance on your account. This may require you to pay a final amount, but it may also be a refund if you’ve overpaid for energy over the course of the contract, so always read it carefully.
