We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

How Long When Switching Energy?

Options
joe2cool
joe2cool Posts: 4,121 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic
edited 31 August 2014 at 11:11AM in Energy
Hi how long does it take when switching electricity? My fixed deal with SP comes to an end in October. Is it usually 3 weeks?

Appreciate any help


Thx
joe2cool
«1

Comments

  • JJ_Egan
    JJ_Egan Posts: 20,281 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    3 to 6 weeks .
  • joe2cool
    joe2cool Posts: 4,121 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic
    Ok thx for quick response
    joe2cool
  • System
    System Posts: 178,331 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Switching is only a billing process involving 2 suppliers and, if applicable, an independent gas transporter. My experience of switching to Ovo was an application in Mar with a switch date of 14 Apr. Paid Ovo the first advance payment on notional switch date (14 Apr); got first bill from Ovo for electricity on 14 May, final bill (incorrect) from EDF on 28 May, and amended final bill on 3 Jun. Jun bill from Ovo showed electricity and gas backdated to 14 Apr.

    Note: These are the OFGEM rules - if you switch once you have received a letter from your old supplier they must keep you on your present tariff until the switch goes through.

    "Suppliers will be required to notify customers that their current fixed-term is coming to an end between 42 and 49 days before the contract ends.

    Between this notification period and the end of the fixed term contract, suppliers will be banned from charging a termination fee should the customer decide to switch.

    Suppliers will be banned from automatically rolling a customer over onto a further fixed term contract.

    Instead suppliers will be required to default customers to an evergreen contract if the customer takes no switching action before the end of their fixed-term contract (this default contract must be the cheapest evergreen tariff with the supplier from 31st March 2014). "

    PPS: whatever you do do not repeat do not cancel your DD until after you have received your Final Bill. If you do - and you are on a fixed tariff - the 'system' will usually change you to the standard variable tariff.
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • joe2cool
    joe2cool Posts: 4,121 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic
    Hi thx for that.....will see if SP contact me before the contract ends.
    joe2cool
  • Quentin
    Quentin Posts: 40,405 Forumite
    If you are concerned that any switch you make will happen too soon and involve you in termination penalties you can avoid this by switching to the October 2015 fixed tariff which is penalty free to leave.
  • joe2cool
    joe2cool Posts: 4,121 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic
    Hi my present tariff is penalty free but thx for that. Other options appear cheaper than staying with SP.
    joe2cool
  • The regulator is looking to get the switch process down to 1 day.

    They don't explain what is going to happen to the current 14 day cooling off period though.

    No timescales for this to come about yet though.
    Make £2018 in 2018 Challenge - Total to date £2,108
  • NeverInDebt
    NeverInDebt Posts: 4,633 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    17 days switching at end of year included 2 week cooling off period

    https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/press-releases/ofgem-leads-radical-shake-energy-switching-process

    one day by end of 2018

    Its taken me so far almost a month waiting cant wait to leave Scottish Power
  • joe2cool
    joe2cool Posts: 4,121 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic
    Cheers.........
    joe2cool
  • naedanger
    naedanger Posts: 3,105 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    joe2cool wrote: »
    Hi how long does it take when switching electricity? My fixed deal with SP comes to an end in October. Is it usually 3 weeks?

    Appreciate any help


    Thx
    I started my switch to npower in October 2013 and it is still not completed.

    The delay is entirely due to npower's incompetence and deliberate inaction and through no fault of my own. They have also ignored the Ombudsman's deadlines yet have incredibly closed my complaint while admitting they have still to resolve the problem.

    Hopefully atypical but there are a lot of people having big issues with npower so I suggest you don't look at them.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.8K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.7K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.5K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.8K Life & Family
  • 257K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.