What is the cooling-off period?
The cooling-off period is a legal right under UK consumer protection law (the Consumer Contracts Regulations) that applies to contracts agreed at a distance; including online or over the phone, which covers the vast majority of energy switches arranged through comparison platforms.
It gives you 14 calendar days from the point you agree to a new energy contract to cancel it, for any reason, without paying a fee or giving a justification. This applies whether you're switching from one supplier to another, or signing up for a new contract with your existing supplier.
How the 14 days are counted
The 14-day period starts on the day after you agree to the contract; for example, if you sign up on a Monday, day one of the cooling-off period is Tuesday, and it runs for 14 calendar days from there (not working days). It's worth checking the confirmation email or contract documents from your new supplier, as they'll usually state the exact date your cooling-off period ends.
How to cancel during the cooling-off period
If you decide to cancel within the 14 days, contact your new supplier directly; most provide a cancellation method by phone, email, or through your online account. You don't need to give a reason, and there's no fee for cancelling within this window.
If you cancel before the switch has actually started, your supply simply continues with your existing supplier as normal, as if nothing had happened. If the switch process has already begun by the time you cancel, your new supplier is responsible for liaising with your previous supplier to make sure your account is handled correctly; including switching you back if needed.
What happens if you don't cancel
If you don't cancel within the 14 days, the cooling-off period simply expires and your contract continues as agreed. Many suppliers won't begin the actual switch process until the cooling-off period has passed (or you've actively confirmed you don't want to use it), specifically so that cancellations are simple and don't require unwinding a switch that's already in motion.
Waiving the cooling-off period
Some suppliers allow you to actively confirm that you want the switch to begin immediately, effectively waiving the remainder of the cooling-off period for the purposes of starting the process sooner. If you do this and then change your mind, you may still be within your statutory rights to cancel, but the practical steps (such as switching back) may take longer since the process will already be underway. If speed matters less to you than flexibility, there's no need to waive the period.
Cooling-off vs. exit fees on fixed tariffs
It's worth distinguishing the cooling-off period from exit fees on fixed-term tariffs. The cooling-off period is a separate, statutory right that applies regardless of whether a tariff has an exit fee; you can cancel within 14 days of signing up without paying any exit fee, even on a fixed tariff that would normally charge one if you left later in the contract. Exit fees only become relevant if you want to leave after the cooling-off period has ended but before the fixed term is up.