When's the earliest i can apply to swap supplier?

saintscouple

Currently on a N-Power tariff that ends 31st July, though states i can end the contract not before 21st June without penalty.

So i take it the 21st June is the earliest date the new supplier can take over the supply.

So when is the earliest i can apply to a new supplier? I've read it can take 3 weeks to switch supply, but is that time set in stone, or can it happen sooner?

I'm going on holiday end June and would like the switch sorted beforehand if possible, but at the same time don't want the switch to overrun and me not be here to submit final and first meter readings.

Streaky_Bacon

You can switch in the last 49 days without paying an exit fee, and the switch will take at least 14 days (but almost certainly at least 17 days).

Day 1 of those 49 days is June 13th. N Power has told you 21st June based upon a 42 day period, but that is incorrect.

So, if you go with 49 days, you would be perfectly safe to initiate the switch on May 31st, and probably as early as May 28th.

If you want to use N Power's date and, for safety, assume that the switch takes exactly 14 days, then you could start it on June 7th.

EDIT: The reason that N Power has given a date that is 42 days before the end of your contract, is because that is the latest date that they need to provide you with you statement of renewal terms. However, the rule below (in the standard licence conditions) clarifies that the switching windows begins when they provide them, or 49 days before the end of the contract, whichever is sooner.

24.17 For the purposes of this condition “Switching Window” means the period which begins when the Domestic Statement of Renewal Terms is provided to the Domestic Customer, or 49 days before the date the fixed term period of a Fixed Term Supply Contract is due to end (whichever is earlier) and which ends on the date the fixed term period of a Fixed Term Supply Contract is due to end.

Benight

saintscouple wrote: »

Currently on a N-Power tariff that ends 31st July, though states i can end the contract not before 21st June without penalty.

So i take it the 21st June is the earliest date the new supplier can take over the supply.

So when is the earliest i can apply to a new supplier? I've read it can take 3 weeks to switch supply, but is that time set in stone, or can it happen sooner?

I'm going on holiday end June and would like the switch sorted beforehand if possible, but at the same time don't want the switch to overrun and me not be here to submit final and first meter readings.

The dates stated don't stack up.

But to answer your question, you can apply to switch to a new supplier whenever you want.

If you can save money by switching now, why wait?

If the result of switching supplier is that you will end up paying a higher price for the same energy, what's the rush?

You will incur early exit fees if you end your existing contract early i.e. prior to 49 days before the scheduled end date.

As long as your supplier is informed of an intention to switch supplier before the 31st July (being the specified end date of your existing contract), you can still retain those tariff rates if the actual switch occurs after that date (within reason)

Streaky_Bacon

Benight wrote: »

As long as your supplier is informed of an intention to switch supplier before the 31st July (being the specified end date of your existing contract), you can still retain those tariff rates if the actual switch occurs after that date (within reason)

As Benight points out, you may wish to consider delaying longer if you are moving on to a worse tariff.

The rules regarding staying on the same tariff while you switch, will actually take you a bit further, as your current supplier just needs to receive notice from your new supplier, within 20 working days of the end of your contract. So, as long as you new supplier gives notice by August 28th, you should not be charged on a different tariff.

Of course, if you push it too far, you do have the issue of when exactly your new supplier provides such notice (which you have no real control over), and they do need to complete the switch within a reasonable period of time.

saintscouple

Thank you both, most helpful.

There is a cheaper tariff out there that's just been highlighted in this weeks MSE newsletter, hence the interest - hopefully it'll still be around in a couple of weeks time. I think these tariff's normally have a capacity threshold, and close once that's met.

Benight

saintscouple wrote: »

Thank you both, most helpful.

There is a cheaper tariff out there that's just been highlighted in this weeks MSE newsletter, hence the interest - hopefully it'll still be around in a couple of weeks time. I think these tariff's normally have a capacity threshold, and close once that's met.

You mean the cheap deal that has "stormed past" the cheap deal that was suggested last week, which itself was cheaper than the cheap deal that was offered the week before?

At this rate, wait until you get back from holiday and perhaps the energy companies will be offering to pay you to use their energy

There are already cheaper deals than the one suggested today, but as MSE are now forced to say, you need to 'scroll down' to see the deal they advertise where MSE can earn money if you opt to switch to it via them. :cool:

TREVORCOLMAN

With British Gas my transfer took 6 weeks.

:mad: