600,000 customers switched suppliers in October

Energy UK figures show 4.5 million customers have changed supplier this year

More than 600,000 customers switched supplier last month, according to the latest official figures from Energy UK.

According to the trade body, around 612,000 people switched suppliers in October, which represents an increase of 11 per cent on the 551,000 who switched the previous month.

Energy UK said this is only the second time the monthly figure has broken the 600,000 barrier and the total number of customers changing supplier so far this year is now more than 4,500,000.

A third (32 per cent) of those changing providers in October moved to small and mid-tier suppliers.

Another third (33 per cent) were between larger suppliers and 10 per cent were from small to mid-tier suppliers.

The chief executive of Energy UK, Lawrence Slade, said:
“Switching continues to surge with over 600,000 customers changing supplier to find a better deal last month.

“Many more will have made savings by checking they are on the best deal with their current supplier. It only takes a few minutes to do this and with over 55 suppliers across the market, there’s never been more competition or choice.”

Last month, a survey by Opinium research, which was commissioned by renewable energy supplier Pure Planet, showed 50 per cent of customers on a Big Six tariff said they were planning to switch as the government moves to cap energy price increases.