UK energy market data

Energy switching volumes

Ofgem publishes monthly data on the number of domestic households switching gas and electricity supplier in Great Britain. Switching volumes indicate consumer engagement with the market and show whether households are actively seeking better deals.

Switching activity fell sharply during the 2021 to 2022 energy crisis when most fixed tariffs were withdrawn from the market and there was little financial incentive to switch. Activity has recovered significantly as fixed tariffs have returned below the price cap level. The July 2026 cap rise to £1,862 is expected to drive further switching activity as households seek to fix below the new rate.

Source: Ofgem Retail Market Indicators, March 2026 switching data. Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Related: How to switch your energy supplier · How long does an energy switch take?

Supplier market share

Ofgem tracks the number of domestic electricity and gas customer accounts held by each supplier each quarter. Market share data shows the relative size of each supplier and how the market has consolidated since the 2021 to 2022 energy crisis.

The market has consolidated significantly since the 2021 to 2022 energy crisis, when more than 60 suppliers ceased trading. Octopus Energy has grown substantially through acquiring customers from failed suppliers including Bulb (1.5 million customers in 2022) and Shell Energy (1.3 million customers in 2024). OVO Energy similarly grew through its 2020 acquisition of SSE's domestic supply business.

Customer figures are approximate and based on publicly available company statements and Ofgem data. Precise current figures vary and are updated quarterly by Ofgem.

Source: Ofgem Retail Market Indicators, domestic customer accounts data. Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Related: Energy suppliers A-Z

Tariff pricing and the price cap

Ofgem monitors the tariff prices available to domestic customers each month, comparing the standard variable tariff (SVT) against fixed tariffs and the cheapest available deals. This data shows how much the market is offering relative to the price cap.

As of April 2026, around 71% of fixed tariffs were available to the whole market rather than exclusive to specific customer groups. Approximately half of those fixed tariffs were priced below the April 2026 price cap of £1,641.

The cheapest tariff basket in April 2026 stood at £1,558, compared to £1,615 in March 2026. The basket represents an average of the cheapest deals available across the market rather than a single lowest price.

From 1 July 2026 the price cap rises to £1,862. Fixed tariffs are available below this level for typical households, meaning switching to a fixed deal before July could reduce annual bills relative to staying on a standard variable tariff.

Source: Ofgem Retail Market Indicators, prices and profits data, April 2026. Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Related: Fixed vs variable energy tariffs · Energy price cap rates by region · Price cap history 2019 to 2026

Customer credit balances

Ofgem publishes quarterly data on the credit balances held by domestic customers who pay by fixed Direct Debit. Credit builds up when monthly payments exceed actual consumption costs, typically during summer months when heating use is low. This data shows how much money is sitting in energy accounts that households could potentially claim back.

Credit balances follow a seasonal pattern. They build up through summer months when gas consumption is low but direct debit payments continue, then are drawn down through winter as heating costs rise. The figures above are net of unbilled consumption, meaning they represent genuine surplus credit rather than prepayment for future energy use.

Under Ofgem rules, suppliers must repay credit balances promptly on customer request. If your account is in credit, you are entitled to request that money back. Log into your supplier account or contact them directly.

Source: Ofgem, Domestic energy customer credit balances January to December 2025, published March 2026. Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Related: Direct debit checker · Annual bill estimator

Active suppliers in the market

Ofgem monitors the number of active licensed energy suppliers in the domestic market. Supplier numbers fell dramatically during the 2021 to 2022 energy crisis and have stabilised at a lower level since.

The domestic supplier market peaked at over 70 active suppliers in 2019. The combination of rapidly rising wholesale gas prices from late 2021 and the price cap preventing suppliers from passing all costs to customers led to a wave of supplier failures. Customers of failed suppliers were transferred to replacement suppliers under Ofgem's Supplier of Last Resort process, with no interruption to their energy supply.

The market has stabilised since 2023. New entrants including Fuse Energy, Tulo Energy, and Home Energy have joined the market as conditions have normalised. Octopus Energy, which grew significantly through the crisis by absorbing customers from failed suppliers, is now the UK's largest energy retailer by customer account numbers.

Source: Ofgem Retail Market Indicators, market structure data, September 2025. Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Related: View all UK energy supplier profiles

Switching speed

Ofgem monitors how long domestic energy switches take to complete under the Faster Switching rules introduced in 2021.

Most domestic gas and electricity switches now complete within approximately five working days of the new supplier accepting the application. This is a significant improvement on the previous standard of up to 21 days.

The Faster Switching programme applies to the majority of standard domestic accounts. Some switches involving prepayment meters, complex supply configurations, or address data queries may take longer. Ofgem publishes average switching time data as part of its quarterly retail market indicators.

Source: Ofgem Retail Market Indicators, average switching time data. Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Related: How long does an energy switch take?