Thinking about switching to Octopus Energy?
This guide explains everything you need to know before you switch to Octopus Energy, including how the switch works, how long it takes, what happens to your existing supplier, which Octopus tariff you can choose and how eligible new customers can receive £50 energy credit when they join.
If you switch using our link, we may receive a commission from Octopus Energy. Eligible new domestic customers can receive £50 energy credit. This does not create a different energy tariff or increase the tariff rates offered to you.
What you need to know about switching to Octopus Energy
| What to know | What happens |
|---|---|
| How do I switch? | Get an Octopus quote, choose your tariff and complete your details online |
| How long does it take? | Octopus says most switches are completed within around 3 working days |
| Do I contact my old supplier? | No. Octopus handles the switch for you |
| Will my energy be disconnected? | No. Changing supplier does not mean changing the electricity or gas coming into your home |
| Can I keep my smart meter? | Yes, although Octopus will need to establish a connection to it before you can use certain smart tariffs |
| Do I need a meter reading? | Octopus will ask for an opening reading so your old supplier can prepare your final bill |
| Are there any new customer discounts? | Eligible customers who switch using our link can receive £50 Octopus Energy account credit |
| Does the £50 change my tariff? | No. The credit is separate from your energy tariff |
Octopus currently says it will usually switch a new customer within three working days after sign-up. Energy suppliers are required to complete a switch within five working days unless there is a valid reason for a delay.
How to switch to Octopus Energy
Switching energy supplier is much simpler than it used to be. You don’t need to cancel your existing energy account first or arrange for anyone to visit your home.
1. Get an Octopus Energy quote
Start by entering your postcode and a few details about your home and energy usage.
Octopus will use this information to show the tariffs and estimated monthly payments available to you.
The prices you see will depend on factors such as your region, meter setup, payment method and the tariff you choose.
2. Choose your tariff
You’ll then be able to choose from the Octopus tariffs currently available for your home.
For many households, this will mean choosing between a standard variable tariff or one of Octopus Energy’s fixed tariffs.
Octopus also offers a much wider range of specialist and smart tariffs, including tariffs designed for:
- electric vehicles
- solar panels and exporting electricity
- heat pumps
- battery storage
- households able to move their electricity use to cheaper times of day
Some smart tariffs have additional eligibility requirements, so you may need to become an Octopus customer on a standard tariff first before moving across.
Explore all Octopus Energy tariffs →
3. Complete your switch
Once you’re happy with the tariff, you’ll need to provide the information Octopus needs to set up your account.
This normally includes your contact details, home address and payment information.
Octopus then contacts your existing energy supplier and arranges the transfer.
You don’t normally need to tell your old supplier that you’re leaving.
4. Provide an opening meter reading
Around the time of your switch, Octopus may ask you for an opening meter reading.
That reading establishes where your old supplier should stop charging you and where Octopus should start.
Octopus passes the reading through the industry switching process so that both suppliers can use an agreed handover reading. Your previous supplier can then prepare your final bill.
5. Your Octopus Energy account goes live
Once the switch has completed, Octopus becomes your energy supplier.
Your previous supplier will produce a final bill and either collect anything you still owe or refund any remaining account credit.
You can then manage your Octopus account online or through the Octopus Energy app and, where eligible, start looking at Octopus’ smart tariffs and other customer benefits.
How do I get £50 credit when joining Octopus?
Eligible new customers can currently receive £50 Octopus Energy credit by joining through a qualifying referral link.
The credit is added to your Octopus account once the offer conditions are met, and it’s separate from your tariff, so it doesn’t change the unit rates or standing charges available to you.
Are there any Octopus Energy switching discounts or deals?
No, not in the traditional sense. Octopus Energy doesn’t currently offer cheaper tariff rates or special energy prices just for new customers switching to them.
However, eligible new customers can currently receive £50 joining credit when they switch using our link.
If you want to know more about the £50 offer, including eligibility and when the credit is added, see our guide:
Octopus Energy referral code →
Which Octopus Energy tariff should I switch to?
This is where switching to Octopus can be slightly different from simply comparing one standard energy tariff against another.
Octopus has its conventional tariffs, but it also has a growing range of tariffs designed around how and when households actually use electricity.
Standard Octopus tariffs
If you simply want a conventional energy tariff, you can compare the standard options Octopus currently offers.
Flexible Octopus is Octopus Energy’s standard variable tariff. Its rates can change, and there are no exit fees for leaving Flexible Octopus.
Octopus also offers fixed tariffs, where the unit rates and standing charges are fixed for the term of the agreement. Some current fixed tariffs can carry exit fees, so check the terms before joining.
Compare Octopus Energy tariffs →
Switching to Octopus for an electric car
If you have an EV, becoming an Octopus customer can also give you access to tariffs such as Octopus Go and Intelligent Octopus Go.
These tariffs have additional requirements, including a compatible smart meter, and Intelligent Octopus Go also has compatibility requirements for your EV or charger.
You generally join Octopus on a standard tariff first and then move to the eligible smart tariff once Octopus has taken over your supply and established the necessary connections.
Switching to Octopus with solar panels
Octopus also has several export tariffs for households that generate electricity using solar panels.
Depending on your setup, these can include fixed export rates, time-of-use export tariffs and tariffs designed to work alongside particular Octopus import tariffs.
Your import tariff (what you pay for electricity from the grid) and your export tariff (what you’re paid for electricity sent back) are separate, so it’s worth comparing the complete setup rather than looking at either rate in isolation.
Compare Octopus Energy solar & export tariffs →
Do I need to tell my current supplier I’m switching?
No.
Once you’ve completed your Octopus sign-up, Octopus handles the supplier-switching process and tells your current supplier that you’re leaving.
Your current supplier will then close your old account and produce a final bill after the handover reading has been processed.
Don’t cancel your existing Direct Debit immediately. It can be useful to leave it in place until your final bill has been settled and any remaining credit has been refunded.
What happens to credit with my old energy supplier?
Any money held by your old supplier remains yours.
If your account is in credit when you leave, your previous supplier should calculate the final balance and return any money owed to you after producing your final bill.
Octopus says that if you’re in credit, your old supplier should return that balance to you once the final bill has been produced.
A final bill isn’t always immediate. Octopus says that, in its experience, receiving one from the previous supplier commonly takes around four to six weeks, although the timing is ultimately controlled by the supplier you’re leaving.
Can I switch to Octopus Energy if I owe my current supplier money?
It depends on the circumstances.
Having a small outstanding balance doesn’t automatically mean you can’t change supplier, but longer-standing energy debt can sometimes prevent a switch.
Ofgem says customers who have owed money to their supplier for less than 28 days can normally still switch, with the balance being added to their final bill. Different rules apply to prepayment customers and longer-standing debt.
If your current supplier objects to the transfer, this can delay the switch.
Will switching to Octopus interrupt my electricity or gas?
No.
Switching energy supplier is an administrative change. Your home remains connected to the same electricity network and, where applicable, the same gas network.
There shouldn’t be a point where your energy is turned off while one supplier hands your account over to another.
Your meter also stays where it is. You don’t need a new meter simply because you’ve changed supplier.
What happens to my smart meter when I switch to Octopus?
If you already have a smart meter, it normally remains installed when you switch.
Octopus then needs to establish communication with the meter so it can collect readings remotely.
This becomes particularly important if you want to use one of Octopus Energy’s smart tariffs, because tariffs such as Octopus Go and Intelligent Octopus Go rely on compatible smart-meter data.
Octopus says connecting to a smart meter after a switch can take around 14 days in some cases.
Once everything is connected, eligible customers can move from their initial tariff onto a compatible smart tariff.
Can I switch from British Gas, E.ON, EDF, OVO or another supplier to Octopus?
Yes.
The basic process is the same regardless of whether you’re currently supplied by British Gas, E.ON Next, EDF Energy, OVO Energy or another UK energy supplier.
You get an Octopus quote, complete your application and Octopus arranges the supplier transfer.
Before leaving, however, check whether your current tariff has an exit fee.
If you’re approaching the end of a fixed tariff, there are protections around exit fees. Octopus notes that if you apply to leave your old supplier within the final 49 days of your contract, the previous supplier cannot charge an exit fee for the switch.
Can I change my mind after signing up?
Yes.
Octopus’ current domestic supply terms include a 14-day cooling-off period after you submit your application.
If Octopus has already started supplying your home during that period, you’ll still need to pay for any energy you’ve actually used, but you retain your cancellation rights.
What happens after I switch to Octopus Energy?
Becoming an Octopus customer is only the first step.
Once your account is up and running, you can explore whether other Octopus tariffs or features make more sense for your household.
Depending on your home and energy use, that could include:
Smart tariffs
Tariffs such as Agile Octopus, Tracker, Octopus Go or Intelligent Octopus Go may suit households able to change when they use electricity.
EV tariffs
If you charge an electric car at home, Octopus offers tariffs designed around cheaper overnight or intelligently scheduled charging.
Solar and export tariffs
Homes with solar panels can look at Octopus’ range of export tariffs and get paid for electricity sent back to the grid.
Octoplus
Eligible Octopus customers can access Octoplus and take part in rewards and energy-saving events.
Octopus Energy app
You can monitor your account, view energy use, submit readings and manage many parts of your account through the Octopus app.
Discover the benefits of being an Octopus Energy customer →
Should I switch to Octopus Energy?
Whether switching makes financial sense depends on the tariff available to your home, your current supplier, your existing tariff and how you use energy.
Rather than choosing a supplier based purely on an advertised monthly figure, compare:
your electricity and gas unit rates, standing charges, estimated annual cost, any exit fees on the tariff you’re leaving, any exit fees on the tariff you’re joining, and whether you could benefit from one of Octopus’ specialist tariffs later.
The easiest starting point is simply to get an Octopus quote. You can see the rates available for your property before deciding whether to complete the switch.
Switching to Octopus Energy FAQs
How long does it take to switch to Octopus Energy?
Octopus currently says it will usually complete a switch within three working days. Ofgem requires suppliers to switch electricity or gas supply within five working days unless an exception applies.
Does it cost anything to switch to Octopus Energy?
Octopus does not charge you simply for becoming a customer. However, you should check whether the tariff you’re leaving has an early-exit fee.
Can I get £50 when I switch to Octopus Energy?
Eligible domestic customers who sign up through a qualifying affiliate or referral link can currently receive £50 Octopus Energy account credit. Under Octopus’ current terms, the reward is added once the customer is on supply and their first successful Direct Debit has been taken.
Is the £50 an Octopus tariff discount?
No. It is account credit rather than a discount to your unit rates or standing charges.
Do I have to contact my existing supplier?
Normally no. Octopus contacts your old supplier and manages the transfer after you’ve completed your application.
Will I lose energy supply while switching?
No. Changing energy supplier does not normally interrupt the physical electricity or gas supply to your home.
Can I switch to Octopus if I already have a smart meter?
Yes. Octopus will attempt to connect to your existing smart meter after your account transfers. Certain Octopus smart tariffs require a compatible meter and half-hourly readings.
Can I switch directly to Intelligent Octopus Go?
New customers generally need to become an Octopus customer on a standard tariff first. Once the supply has transferred and the necessary smart-meter and EV or charger requirements have been confirmed, you can apply for Intelligent Octopus Go.
What happens to my old energy account?
Your old supplier closes the account using the agreed final meter reading, sends you a final bill and refunds any remaining credit or asks you to settle any outstanding balance.
Can I cancel an Octopus switch?
Octopus’ current domestic terms provide a 14-day cooling-off period from the date you submit your application.
Energy tariffs, joining incentives and eligibility rules can change. Always check the tariff rates and offer terms presented during sign-up before completing your switch.
Last checked: September 2026