Direct Debit
Got an energy bill credit? Here’s how to request a refund from your supplier.
After the 2022 energy crisis, many households saw their energy bills and Direct Debit payments increase sharply. Ofgem reviewed supplier Direct Debit practices following concerns about large increases, although it found no evidence that suppliers were deliberately inflating Direct Debits across the market.
Credit can build up because your Direct Debit stays fixed while your energy usage changes, particularly between summer and winter, or because your supplier has estimated your bills without regular meter readings. Ofgem’s latest data shows that households paying by fixed Direct Debit held an average of £199 in credit over the 12 months to March 2026.
Open your energy supplier’s app or online account and look for “account balance”, “balance” or “credit balance.” A positive balance normally means you have paid more than the cost of the energy you have been billed for. However, some credit is normal because Direct Debit payments are often designed to build a balance during lower-use periods and cover higher winter energy costs.
There is no fixed amount of energy account credit that every household should keep. Check your recent energy usage, upcoming bills and monthly Direct Debit before requesting a refund. For example, if you pay £150 a month and have £500 in credit, you may have more credit than you need, particularly if your actual energy use is lower than your payments. Ofgem says you can ask your supplier to refund credit on a live account at any time, although the supplier may consider your expected future energy costs before approving the amount.