Check if You Have Money in a Closed Energy Account
Ofgem reports £240 million in unclaimed credit across nearly 2 million closed UK energy accounts. Households that switched suppliers or moved home in the last five years may be owed refunds if contact details were outdated.
Direct answer
Nearly 2 million UK households may have unclaimed credit totalling £240 million in closed energy accounts, mainly from switching suppliers or moving home in the last five years. This is confirmed by Ofgem as of late 2025. Contact your old supplier or check online accounts to reclaim it simply.
What’s happening
Ofgem has identified nearly 2 million closed energy accounts holding around £240 million in unclaimed credit. These accounts typically close when households switch suppliers or move home. According to Ofgem, suppliers automatically return over 90% of balances, but missing or outdated contact details prevent refunds in many cases. Ofgem's Guaranteed Standards of Performance require final bills within 6 weeks and refunds within 10 working days of closure, yet delays occur without proper customer information.
Tim Jarvis, Ofgem's Director General for Retail, notes that moving house often leads to overlooked admin, leaving money unclaimed. Energy UK emphasises keeping details updated for prompt returns, especially amid ongoing bill pressures.
What this means for household energy bills
Unclaimed credit in a closed energy account represents overpaid money that could lower your current bills or provide a direct refund. For affected households, this averages around £126 per account, potentially easing financial strain without changing suppliers. However, suppliers may hold funds to cover estimated future usage if meter readings are outdated or winter approaches. Reclaiming reduces reliance on Direct Debits and improves cash flow, as confirmed by Ofgem and industry data.
Who is affected
This applies to UK households who:
- Switched energy suppliers in the last 5 years.
- Moved home, closing old accounts.
- Cancelled Direct Debits before final bills.
- Have outdated contact details with former suppliers.
Nearly 2 million accounts are impacted, per Ofgem figures from late 2025.
What you can do now
- Log into your old online account to check the balance – credit often shows as 'CR' or positive pounds.
- Contact your former supplier via email, webchat or phone to update details and request a refund.
- Provide final meter readings and confirm your forwarding address or bank info.
- Keep Direct Debit active until the final bill. When switching in future, consider using tools like Taupia that automatically read your bill details - this helps capture your balance before accounts close.
- If refused, ask for a usage breakdown and escalate if needed under Ofgem rules.
Key takeaways
- £240 million sits unclaimed in nearly 2 million closed UK energy accounts.
- Over 90% of credits are auto-refunded if contact details are current.
- Households that moved or switched in the last 5 years should check old accounts now.
- Update details with suppliers to ensure quick refunds under Ofgem rules.
- Keep Direct Debit active until final bill to avoid leaving credit behind.