The companies have commited to automatically accept prepayment customers with a debt of up to £500 to remove a potential barrier to customers switching.
The change to the way DAP operates removes a step from the switching process. Previously the energy company receiving the customer could block the switch on the grounds of the debt, slowing down the process.
The change, which came into effect yesterday, has been agreed to by all the big six, along with independent suppliers Ecotricity, First Utility, Spark Energy and Utility Warehouse.
Energy UK chief executive Lawrence Slade said: “Improvements to the operation of the Debt Assignment Protocol brings the benefits of energy switching within the grasp of more customers – even if they owe money on the meter.”
“The energy industry is working hard to make things better for customers and today’s change to the operation of the Debt Assignment Protocol by ten companies is a further step in breaking down barriers that stop people switching.”