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How to switch energy supplier — and is it worth it?

People put off switching because it sounds like hassle — cold flat, men with clipboards, days without power. None of that happens. Your gas and electricity don’t move an inch; only the name on the bill changes.

• Your supply never goes off. Same pipes, same wires, same meter — the new supplier just takes over the billing. There’s no engineer visit and no gap in supply. It usually completes in a couple of weeks.
• Check one thing first: exit fees. If you’re on a fixed deal, leaving early can cost a penalty. Near the end of the term you can usually switch penalty-free.
• What you’ll need. A recent bill or your account details, your bank details for the direct debit, and a rough idea of your usage — though your real usage tells the truth far better than a guess.
• Is it worth it? Only if a genuinely cheaper deal exists for the way you use energy. A switch that looks great on a typical-home comparison can be a non-event for your home. Find the cheapest for your usage →

Joulely ranks the whole market on your real usage and tells you straight whether switching saves you anything — and says so plainly when you’re already on a good deal.