SSE has become one of the first energy suppliers to introduce faster switching – enabling customers to switch in just 17 days from 5 November.
Previously the switching process took 35 calendar days but the new speedier switching will make changing supplier easier and faster, with the entire process complete in just over two and a half weeks.
The new switching times will still include a statutory 14 day cooling off period when customers can change their mind, cancel their contract or stay with their original supplier. After this period it will take just three days to confirm the switch - a fraction of the time it took previously.
Jane Bednall, Director of Domestic Energy at SSE, said: “Customers are constantly telling us that they find energy complicated and want us to make things easier and more transparent. We are listening to customers and making switching faster and simpler is fundamental to this.
“At SSE we want the market to be as dynamic and competitive as possible and reducing the time it takes to switch is an important step.
“We want to do more for customers, that's why we’re delighted to be one of the first to press the button on faster switching and hope that other suppliers follow suit.”
Stephen Murray, energy expert at MoneySuperMarket said: “It’s good to see SSE embracing faster switching for its customers and be one of the first of the ‘big six’ energy suppliers to make this change. Hopefully a reduction in the time it takes to change energy tariffs will encourage more people to move on to the best deals. Those who have never switched to save should take confidence in the fact that it is now faster and easier to do.”
Ofgem implemented proposals earlier this year for switching times to be reduced to just 14+3 days by the end of 2014 with the aim for next-day energy switching by the end of 2018.