More than five million customers have switched electricity supplier this year, according to the latest set of statistics from Energy UK.
The figures show more than 475,000 customers switched provider during November, and nearly a quarter of those (24 per cent) switched to a small or mid-tier supplier.
According to the trade body, the number of people who have switched supplier in 2017 currently stands at 5,121,770, which beats the number who switched during the whole of 2016 (4,910,412).
“Over five million customers have now taken action to lower their bills, topping last year’s figure and showing how more and more people are realising how quick and easy it is to save money,” said Energy UK chief executive, Lawrence Slade.
“If you have not done so already, spend a few minutes contacting your own supplier to find a better deal or switch to one of the 55 plus suppliers out there. It will be well worth the effort.”
Energy UK also announced SSE, OVO Energy and Utility Warehouse have signed up to the Energy Switch Guarantee (ESG), which now covers over 90 per cent of the market.
The ESG is an industry-led initiative through which companies sign up to a series of commitments designed to ensure customer switches are simple, speedy and safe.
Ofgem numbers estimate that, in addition to those switching supplier, double that number make a change with their current provider. This means that in excess of 12 million households will have actively chosen the best deal for themselves by the end of 2017.
Tina Tietjen, independent chair of the ESG, said: “We’re delighted to welcome three new major suppliers to the ESG. It means that even more customers can switch with confidence to suppliers of all sizes covered by the scheme.”
There 23 signatories including: British Gas, Bulb Energy, Eon, EDF Energy, First Utility, Flow Energy, M&S Energy, Npower, Octopus Energy, OVO Energy, Pure Planet, Sainsbury’s Energy, Scottish Power, So Energy, SSE, Tonik Energy and Utility Warehouse.