You may be owed credit for a number of reasons, and the amount could range between just a few pounds to more than £100
Author: Fran
11 am, 28 Feb 2026
UK householders are being urged to check if they are owed any money from their energy supplier. According to an experienced North-East Energy Industry Consultant, Steve Dobson, many may owe hundreds of pounds in unclaimed energy credits without realising it.
Approximately £240 million is thought to be unclaimed. Steve said that those who have changed their energy provider in the last five years could still have credit sitting in their old supplier's account.
Steve mentions “it is common knowledge in the energy industry that domestic energy providers have close to £8.1 billion in customers ‘surplus credit’, in their bank accounts, as home energy users often build up a credit on their account, in preparation for the more expensive winter months. As the cold weather kicks in, the credit balance will cover the extra usage and costs incurred. This is a common occurrence when a customer is on a “Fixed” Direct Debit for the duration of their agreement. A home energy user will over-pay during the summer months and possibly under-pay in the winter months, so it sometimes balances out. However, sometimes the customer still has a credit balance when they change supplier, and this is often not returned to the customer when they leave”.
Stephen Dobson, the founder of Taurus Home Energy, Taurus Compare and Taurus Home Utilities, is urging people to check if they are owed an energy refund and switch to a new, cheaper “Fixed” tariff.
With around 2 million closed energy accounts in the UK, it is worth checking whether you fall into this category. Ofgem said the majority of closed accounts may have only a few pounds of credit, but some have more than £100.
Regarding energy refunds, you may be owed a credit for several reasons. If you closed the account because you were moving house, and didn't update the energy provider on your new address or contact details, they may have been unable to contact you to organise the refund. It could also be that you closed the direct debit before the refund could be issued, in which case you'll need to take action. More details on what you can do are outlined below.
How to check if you're due a refund
It's easy to check whether you still have your login details for your old energy account: simply log back in and check the balance. There you will be able to see if you're due to receive some money back, and if so, you can simply request it into your bank account.
But if you don't know your login anymore, or you have left it for too long and are “locked out”, you can just contact the supplier directly, either by phone, online, or even by direct messaging on social media. All you will need to do is provide the account address, your name and contact details, and sometimes your old account number, if you have it.
If you can't remember who you were with, it's worth checking your emails and searching for energy providers' names to see if you have any old correspondence with them. However, Stephen says, “it is important that people are cautious when someone calls 'out of the blue' or makes contact via email, claiming to be 'acting on behalf of your energy supplier' - as energy companies will not contact people directly.
Meanwhile, energy regulator Ofgem has confirmed that the energy price cap for April has fallen by just under 7%. This will apply to every household, even those on fixed tariffs, and will not need to be claimed or applied for. The exact amount each household saves will depend on their specific circumstances and energy usage, but the £117.
Tim Jarvis, director general of markets at Ofgem, said: "Wholesale energy prices have fallen in recent months and we're investing in our network to safeguard the future energy system. The main driver of today's reduction is the change to policy costs announced by the Chancellor in the budget.
"Our focus at Ofgem remains on bearing down on the costs within our control, and unlocking the investment needed to support the transition to a more stable energy system over the longer term." He added: "We're also seeing encouraging signs of greater engagement and competition, with switching increasing by almost 20% year on year."
Taurus Home Energy Director, Stephen Dobson, urges everyone of the 70% of UK home energy customers not on a “fixed” tariff to act now, and “Compare, Switch and Save”, either online or via a trusted third-party expert; preferably someone that they have been recommended to speak to.
He says, “If someone can avoid 'early exit penalty' charges, it is worth reviewing and switching every year, as the record saving one of Taurus Home Energy’s customers achieved was £2320. Do be careful about which supplier you switch to by checking recommendations and reviews first. The average saving at the moment is around £200 for a 12-month “Fixed” Rate.
Lastly, if you can, invest in solar panels or another energy generation technology with energy storage (not for everyone), as it is much cheaper and pays for itself within 3 to 7 years (max). An added benefit is that Renewables will improve the EPC rating of your home, and increase the value of your property; so even if you are a tenant, your Landlord should be keen to arrange an installation, with Taurus Renewables, or an alternative Renewables Installer”.
