Millions of households could be sitting on hundreds of pounds in energy credit without realising it, according to the latest figures from energy regulator Ofgem.
Data published by the regulator shows customers paying for gas and electricity by fixed Direct Debit had an average credit balance of £212 at the end of December 2025, up from £206 a year earlier. Separate Ofgem figures covering the year to June 2025 found around 15 million households had energy account credit balances, with a combined total of more than £3 billion sitting with suppliers.
While being in energy credit is not necessarily a problem, experts are urging households to check whether their balance has grown larger than it needs to be.
How Energy Credit Builds Up
Most customers paying by fixed Direct Debit make the same payment every month, regardless of how much energy they use. This helps spread costs across the year, with accounts often building up credit during warmer months before the money is used to help cover higher winter energy bills.
Thomas Drury, money-saving expert at The Investors Centre, said energy credit can be useful, but households should still review their accounts regularly. He said: "There is a difference between having a useful cushion and leaving hundreds of pounds sitting with your supplier when you could be using that money elsewhere."
Steps to Check Your Balance
According to Ofgem, customers can ask for a refund of credit held in their account at any time, although suppliers can refuse if they have reasonable grounds to believe the money will be needed to cover future bills.
Before requesting a refund, households are being advised to check whether their balance is reasonable for their circumstances. Mr Drury said the amount of credit should be considered alongside monthly payments and expected energy use.
For example, a household paying £150 a month with around £100 in credit may simply have a normal buffer in place. However, a customer paying the same amount but holding several hundred pounds in credit may want to ask their supplier to review their account.
How to Check If You Should Ask for a Refund
- Check your latest energy bill
- Ensure meter readings are up to date
- Compare actual usage against monthly Direct Debit payments
Customers with smart meters should also make sure readings are being transmitted correctly and reflected on their bills.
What Experts Say
Mr Drury said households should not automatically treat account credit as spare cash. He explained: "This is not free money. It is money you have already paid towards energy."
However, he said customers should not feel uncomfortable questioning large credit balances or asking for a review of their Direct Debit payments. "You are not asking for a favour," he added. "You are asking whether the payment level is accurate and whether money you have already paid should be returned."
Check Old Accounts Too
Households are also being encouraged to check old energy accounts if they have switched supplier or moved home in recent years. Ofgem previously estimated that around £240 million in unclaimed credit was sitting in closed energy accounts waiting to be returned to customers.
Anyone who believes they may have credit sitting with a former supplier should check old bills, emails and online accounts to ensure they have not missed a refund they are entitled to receive.
