Your fixed energy deal is ending: what happens and what to do
Published 23 October 2026. Prices are the cap for 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026.
When a fixed tariff ends, nothing dramatic happens: your energy keeps flowing and your supplier moves you onto its standard variable tariff. That tariff is covered by the price cap, so you won’t pay more than the cap, but you also lose the certainty of a fixed price. Whether to fix again depends on what the cap is expected to do next.
The timeline
- Before the end: your supplier has to tell you your deal is ending, in good time for you to choose, and what you’ll pay if you do nothing. Ofgem’s rules ask for timing that gives you a real chance to act, rather than a fixed number of days.
- 49 days before the end: the switching window opens. From then, or from when your renewal terms arrive if that’s earlier, you can move to another tariff or supplier without an exit fee.
- The end date: if you haven’t chosen anything, you move to the standard variable tariff. You can leave it at any time, with no exit fee.
What the standard variable tariff costs now
Under the price cap for 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026, standard variable rates average 26.32p per kWh for electricity with a 54.83p daily standing charge, and 7.97p per kWh for gas with 29.68p a day, paying by direct debit. For a home using Ofgem’s typical amounts that’s about £1,724 a year. Rates differ by region: find yours.
Ofgem sets the cap every three months; the next announcement is due by 25 November 2026. The January 2027 cap guide keeps the published forecasts, dated and sourced.
Should you fix again?
A fix is a bet on prices. It pays off if the cap rises above your fixed rates during the deal, and costs you if it falls below them. Three things to check before signing:
- Compare on your own use. A lower unit rate with a higher standing charge can cost a small household more. Use your yearly kWh from your bill, not a typical figure.
- Compare against the cap’s path, not today’s cap. A fix slightly above today’s cap is a good deal if the cap is expected to rise past it.
- Look at the exit fee. A fix with no exit fee is the safest: if prices fall, you can leave.
The tariff checker does all three: it prices the quotes you have on your own usage over the next year, under no change and under each published forecast, including what leaving early would cost. The direct debit checker then tells you what your monthly payment should be.
Common questions
What happens when my fixed energy tariff ends?
If you do nothing, your supplier moves you onto its standard variable tariff, sometimes called the default tariff. Your supply carries on without a break. That tariff’s rates are limited by the price cap and can change every three months.
Can I switch before my fixed deal ends without paying an exit fee?
Yes, in the last 49 days. From 49 days before the end date, or from when your supplier sends your renewal terms if that is earlier, you can switch supplier or tariff without an exit fee. Before then, check your contract for the fee.
Is the standard variable tariff more expensive than a fix?
Not necessarily. It’s priced at or below the cap, 26.32p per kWh for electricity and 7.97p for gas on average at the moment. A new fix might be above or below that, and the comparison that matters is against where the cap is expected to go over the length of the fix.
How long does switching take?
Up to five working days once any cooling-off period is over, and you get 14 days to change your mind after agreeing a new contract. If a switch you asked for isn’t done in time, the supplier should pay you compensation.
Switching rules from Ofgem’s guide to the supplier communication rules and Citizens Advice. Rates from Ofgem, checked 23 October 2026.