Energy Switch Guarantee

The Energy Switch Guarantee allows you to switch your energy supplier with complete confidence, whether you’re looking for a better value or a higher level of customer care.

It gives everyone a fair chance of choosing the best and the most affordable energy supplier for their homes.

In 2020, half a million clients (496,127) switched energy suppliers on average every month, whereas, nearly 6 million customers switched specifically their electricity supplier.

This article will tell you everything you need to know about Energy Switch Guarantee.

What is the Energy Switch Guarantee?

The Energy Switch Guarantee is a consensual set of agreements that all energy suppliers volunteer to in order to facilitate their clients with a “reliable, hassle-free switch” from their services.

It is a joint effort by the energy industry to make switching from one energy supplier to another as uncomplicated as possible. It comprises ten commitments that will protect households throughout the switching process.

How Can You Switch Your Energy Supplier?

Starting the switching procedure usually takes a little time, and once done with the process, you’ll be switched to your new supplier in no more than 21 days. The process involves the following steps:

Grab a recent energy bill as you can easily locate your rate, supplier, and all the annual information on it. If you can’t find your paper bills or don’t have access to them, try logging into your online account.
You can now look into several energy service companies. To find out how much you can save by switching, use a comparison tool or call multiple energy providers. This way, you’ll know right away which suppliers and tariffs are a better choice for you economically. If you come across a better package than your current one, you can either switch to that or ask your current provider if they can match the offer you found elsewhere.
After you’ve finished weighing your options, you’ll need to approve your contract and begin the payment process. Paying by debit is always a good idea because it usually reduces costs. Finally, your new supplier will contact you to let you know when the switch will take place. You can expect the date to be within 17 to 21 days.

What is the Energy Switch Cooling Off Period?

The energy service business has taken yet another step to assist clients. In case you have any problems after switching your energy supplier and decide you no longer wish to continue with your new energy contract, you can cancel the transfer without penalty within the first 14 days after the switch.

This is generally stated as the cooling off period which allows you a sufficient amount of time to change your mind and you won’t have to worry about any additional charges. Within 14 days of your final bill, any credit from your former account will be reimbursed.

Which energy suppliers have signed up?

Not every energy supplier has signed up for an energy switch guarantee. Here is a list of suppliers that have signed up for this commitment:

British Gas
E.ON
EDF Energy
npower
Scottish Power
SSE
Bulb
Ecotricity
Energy SW
Estronga
Fairer Power
First Utility
Flow Energy
M&S Energy
Octopus Energy
OVO Energy
Pure Planet
Sainsbury’s Energy
So Energy
Southend Energy
Spark Energy
Tonik Energy
Utility Warehouse

If your energy provider is not listed, it does not rule out the possibility of you being able to switch. It only implies that if you plan to switch, the energy switch guarantee will not apply. With the passage of time, more suppliers are expected to sign up.

Each supplier must receive approval from the Governance board before signing up for the guarantee to ensure that they are adhering to all ten commitments.

Can Energy Suppliers be Switched Automatically?

Yes, it is possible to switch energy suppliers automatically. In automatic switching, the whole process is auto-handled for the client.

The system explores different deals and automatically switches you to a new supplier if it finds a better offer than the existing one.

The auto-switching method notifies your former energy provider of your departure and establishes a direct debit with your new energy provider (if you pay direct debit).

What Happens if I Cancel My Energy Switch?

The process runs well as long as the cancellation takes place during the cooling off period.

To avoid any interruptions in service, your current supplier must return your energy supply to your former source and reimburse if any charges are due.

On the other hand, if you come across any issue and wish to discontinue your energy supply after the 14-day cooling-off period, you will almost certainly be charged with an energy cancellation cost or an early exit fee.

Energy contracts are typically of 12 months duration, however you can cancel or switch to another supplier if you don’t want to stay with your current provider.

Who is the cheapest energy supplier?

With new suppliers appearing, energy deals shifting, and the recent history of price spikes from some really well suppliers, has made it impossible to predict exactly what the price of gas or electricity will be in a few years.

To figure out the cheapest energy supplier, the most adopted practice is to seek help from price comparison websites.

Try leveraging those websites to get the present time comparisons between suppliers and tariffs so you can avail the best available offers.