One of the most common reasons people hesitate to switch energy supplier is a worry that something might go wrong — that their gas or electricity might be cut off, or that there’ll be a gap in supply. It’s an understandable concern, but it’s not how switching works in practice. Here’s the reality.

Your Supply Is Never Interrupted

When you switch energy supplier, your actual gas and electricity continues to flow without any interruption at all. The pipes and wires that deliver energy to your home are owned and maintained by your regional network operator — not your energy supplier. The supplier is just the company you have a billing relationship with. Changing supplier is like changing your mobile phone network: the underlying infrastructure doesn’t change, just who you’re paying.

What Actually Happens During a Switch

Here’s the process from start to finish:

• You sign up with the new supplier — either online or by phone. They’ll ask for your address, current meter readings, and some personal details.
• The new supplier notifies your old supplier — you don’t need to contact your old supplier yourself in most cases.
• A cooling-off period applies — you have 14 days to change your mind with no penalty.
• The switch completes — typically within 5 working days for smart meter customers, or up to 21 days for traditional meters. You’ll receive a final bill from your old supplier and your first bill from the new one.

What to Do With Your Old Direct Debit

Don’t cancel your old supplier’s direct debit until you’ve received your final bill and confirmed any credit or balance has been returned. Once the final bill is settled, you can cancel the direct debit.

What About My Smart Meter?

Most modern smart meters (SMETS2) are compatible with all suppliers and will continue to work after a switch. Older SMETS1 smart meters sometimes temporarily lose their “smart” functionality after a switch — they continue to measure your usage accurately, but you may need to submit manual readings for a period. Your new supplier will advise on this.

When You Might Owe Money to Your Old Supplier

If your direct debit payments have been lower than your actual usage, you may have an outstanding balance when you switch. Your old supplier will issue a final bill for this amount. Take a meter reading on the day your switch completes to ensure your final bill is accurate — both suppliers will use this reading as the handover point.

How Long Before My Fixed Deal Ends Should I Switch?

You can switch from a fixed deal up to 49 days before it ends without paying an exit fee (this is an Ofgem rule). Starting to compare around 8–10 weeks before your deal ends gives you time to find the right tariff and complete the switch before you roll onto a standard variable rate.

Ready to cut your energy costs? Compare deals today and see how much you could save.