How Long Does It Take to Switch Energy Supplier? Up to 5 Working Days, or £40 Back (UK 2026)

Last updated: Friday 23 October 2026 (Europe/London).
Next update: when Ofgem changes its switching rules, or after the price cap announcement due by 25 November 2026.
By: Switch Editorial Team, Switch Squid Ltd

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As of 23 October 2026, switching energy supplier in the UK takes up to 5 working days if you ask to switch straight away. Your new supplier handles everything, your gas and electricity never go off, and if the switch runs late your new supplier must pay you £40 automatically. If you prefer to wait until your 14-day cooling-off period is over, the switch can take up to about 21 days. This SwitchSquid guide sets out the switching timeline day by day, what can slow it down, and how to time a switch around the price cap change on 1 January 2027. We may earn a commission if you switch through links on this page; it doesn’t change the price you pay.

Sources: Ofgem — switch your home energy supplier, Ofgem — compensation for switching problems and Citizens Advice — switching energy supplier, all checked on 23 October 2026.

How long does an energy switch take?

Ofgem’s rules say suppliers must move your electricity or gas from your old supplier to your new one within 5 working days. Citizens Advice explains exactly when the clock starts:

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

• If you agree at any other time, such as in the evening or at the weekend, the 5 days start on the next working day.

• A working day is Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays.

In practice, if you sign up on a Monday morning, you should be with your new supplier by the following Monday. If you sign up on a Saturday, the count starts on Monday and the switch should be done by the end of that week.

You can choose a later date instead. Many people do this when a fixed deal is ending, so the switch lines up with the end date. Ask your new supplier when you sign up.

The energy switching timeline, step by step

This is what a typical switch looks like if you ask to move as soon as possible. Exact days depend on bank holidays and when you sign up.

When	What happens	What you need to do
Day 0	You agree a tariff with your new supplier. Your 14-day cooling-off period starts the next day.	Have a recent bill ready with your postcode, current supplier, tariff name and yearly kWh.
Day 1 to 2	Your new supplier confirms the switch date and tells your old supplier.	Nothing. You don’t need to contact your old supplier.
By working day 5	Your supply moves to the new supplier. Gas and electricity keep flowing through the same pipes and wires.	Take meter readings on switch day and send them to your new supplier. Smart meters may do this for you.
Day 14 after sign-up	Your cooling-off period ends.	If you change your mind before then, tell your new supplier and you can cancel without a fee.
Within 6 weeks of switching	Your old supplier sends your final bill.	Pay anything you owe, or check that any credit is refunded.

Source: Citizens Advice and Ofgem guidance, checked on 23 October 2026. If your old supplier’s final bill doesn’t arrive within 6 weeks, contact them. Our guide to getting your credit balance back explains what happens to money left in your old account.

Switching straight away vs after the cooling-off period

When you sign up, your new supplier will ask whether you want to switch as soon as possible or after your 14-day cooling-off period is over. Citizens Advice sets out the difference:

Option	How long it takes	Good for	Watch out for
Switch as soon as possible	Up to 5 working days	Getting off an expensive tariff quickly	If you cancel after the switch, you may land on a standard variable tariff with the new supplier while you sort out a new deal
Switch after the cooling-off period	5 working days after the 14 days end, up to about 21 days in total	People who want time to change their mind	You stay on your old tariff for longer
Choose a specific date	The date you agree with the supplier	Lining up with the end of a fixed deal	Check your exit fee rules if the date is before your fix ends

Whichever you pick, you keep the full 14-day right to cancel. If you have already been switched and cancel within the cooling-off period, Citizens Advice says the new supplier must explain your options, and you then have 15 working days to agree a new contract or go back to your old supplier.

What if my energy switch is late?

Ofgem says that if your switch is not completed within 5 working days, your new supplier must pay you £40. You don’t need to claim; it should be paid automatically into your energy account or bank account within 10 working days. If the supplier doesn’t pay on time, you are owed an extra £40.

If you have been switched by mistake, your old supplier has 21 working days to move you back, and you could get £40 for the mistake too. Further £40 payments apply if suppliers take more than 20 working days to reply or to agree whether the switch was correct.

If you think your switch is late, contact your new supplier first to check they have everything they need, such as your meter details.

What can slow down an energy switch?

• Debt with your old supplier. Ofgem says you can still switch if you have owed money for less than 28 days, or if you have a prepayment meter and owe up to £500. If you have been in debt for more than 28 days, your old supplier can block the switch until it is repaid. Our guide on switching when you owe money explains the options.

• Wrong or missing meter details. If the meter number on your account doesn’t match the one at your property, the switch can stall. Our guide to finding your MPAN shows where to look.

• Unusual meters. Some older meters, such as radio teleswitch meters, can limit which tariffs you can move to. See our radio teleswitch guide.

• Bank holidays. They don’t count as working days. Christmas Day falls on Friday 25 December 2026 and the Boxing Day holiday moves to Monday 28 December, so a switch agreed in the week before Christmas will take longer in calendar days.

• Heat networks. If your building gets heat from a shared system run by a heat network, Ofgem says you can’t switch the heat supplier, because it manages the equipment for the whole building.

Should I switch before the January 2027 price cap?

The price cap is £1,723 a year for a typical dual-fuel home on Direct Debit from 1 October to 31 December 2026, according to Ofgem. Ofgem is due to announce the cap for 1 January to 31 March 2027 by 25 November 2026. If you want a fixed deal in place before the new cap starts, sign up by mid-December to leave time for the 5-working-day switch and the Christmas bank holidays.

Fixing only makes sense if the fixed price beats what you expect to pay on the cap. Compare the yearly cost at your own usage, not just the unit rate. Our next price cap announcement guide and January 2027 forecast cover what to expect.

Will I pay an exit fee for switching?

If you are on a standard variable tariff, there is no exit fee. If you are on a fixed deal, your old supplier can charge an exit fee if you leave early, but not in the last 49 days of the fix. Check your tariff terms before you pick a switch date. Our guide to switching without an exit fee explains the 49-day rule.

How to switch energy supplier quickly

1. Find a recent bill with your postcode, supplier, tariff name and yearly kWh.

2. Compare tariffs on the yearly cost for your usage.

3. Sign up before 5pm on a working day if you want the 5-day clock to start straight away.

4. Choose “as soon as possible” unless you want to wait for the cooling-off period to end.

5. Take meter readings on switch day and send them to your new supplier.

6. Cancel your old Direct Debit only after the final bill is settled.

Our full how to switch energy supplier guide covers each step in more detail, and renters should read our renting guide first.

Who it suits

• Switch now: you are on a standard variable tariff or in the last 49 days of a fix and have found a cheaper deal.

• Switch after cooling-off: you want the full 14 days to change your mind before anything moves.

• Pick a set date: your fixed deal ends soon and you want the new one to start the day after.

• Sort debt first: you have owed your supplier money for more than 28 days.

Prefer to ask a few questions first? Squid AI, SwitchSquid’s AI assistant, can help you work out what to have ready before you compare.

Important conditions

• The 5-working-day rule applies to household switches you ask to happen as soon as possible.

• Bank holidays and weekends don’t count as working days.

• Exit fees can apply if you leave a fixed deal before its last 49 days.

• Heat network customers can’t switch their heat supplier.

• The price cap limits unit rates and standing charges, not your total bill.

FAQ

How long does it take to switch energy supplier in the UK?

Up to 5 working days if you ask to switch as soon as possible, under Ofgem’s rules. If you choose to wait until your 14-day cooling-off period ends, it can take up to about 21 days from the day you agree the contract.

Will my gas or electricity be cut off when I switch?

No. Your energy keeps flowing through the same pipes, wires and meters. Only the company that bills you changes, and nobody needs to visit your home for a standard switch.

Do I need to tell my old supplier I’m switching?

No. Your new supplier contacts your old supplier and arranges the move. You should still take meter readings on the switch day so both bills are accurate.

What happens if my switch takes longer than 5 working days?

Your new supplier must pay you £40 automatically, into your energy account or bank account, within 10 working days. If they pay late, you are owed another £40, according to Ofgem.

Can I cancel an energy switch?

Yes. You have 14 days to cancel without a fee, starting the day after you agree the contract. Tell your new supplier; if the switch hasn’t happened yet, it will be stopped and you stay with your old supplier.

When will I get my final bill from my old supplier?

Citizens Advice says your old supplier should send your final bill within 6 weeks of the switch. If you are in credit, ask for a refund; if you owe money, it is added to the final bill.

Can I switch energy supplier if I owe money?

Usually, if the debt is less than 28 days old, or if you have a prepayment meter and owe up to £500. If you have owed money for more than 28 days, you will normally need to repay it before you can switch.

Our verdict

An energy switch is one of the quickest money-saving jobs you can do: about five working days, no visit, no gap in supply and £40 compensation if it runs late. Sign up before 5pm on a weekday for the fastest start, and if you want a new deal in place before the January price cap, leave yourself time before Christmas.