Energy suppliers held £2.9bn in household credit – should you ask for some back?

Energy suppliers were holding £2.9 billion in credit from households paying by fixed Direct Debit at the end of June, according to new figures from Ofgem.

The average balance among households that were in credit and paying by fixed Direct Debit was £182.

If you have money sitting in your energy account, you can ask your supplier for a refund. But with colder months ahead, taking all of it back might not always be the best move.

Here’s how to check what you have and decide whether some of the money could be better back in your bank account.

Households had £2.9 billion in energy credit

Ofgem published its latest customer credit balance figures on 5 October 2026.

At the end of June 2026:

• energy suppliers held £2.9 billion in customer credit
• this was £200 million more than in June 2025
• the average household in credit had £182
• this was up from £178 a year earlier

The figures cover around 16 million households paying by fixed Direct Debit that were in credit. The data covers households in England, Scotland and Wales.

Importantly, Ofgem says the figures are already adjusted for energy that households had used but had not yet been billed for.

So the £2.9 billion isn’t simply money waiting to be taken by the next energy bill.

However, it also doesn’t mean all £2.9 billion is spare cash that should immediately be refunded.

Why energy credit builds up

Building some credit can be a normal part of paying for gas and electricity by fixed Direct Debit.

You usually pay a set amount each month, even though you tend to use less energy during summer and more during winter.

This means your balance can build during the warmer months and then fall as you use more gas and electricity when it gets colder.

Ofgem says the increase in its latest figures is consistent with this normal seasonal pattern.

Another important point to bear in mind: these figures show balances at the end of June.

Your balance could look quite different now in October, so check your current account rather than assuming the £182 average tells you anything about what you should have.

Should you ask for your energy credit back?

It’s worth checking how much you have.

Ofgem says customers can contact their supplier to claim credit back at any time.

That doesn’t necessarily mean you should withdraw everything.

Before asking for a refund, think about how your account is likely to change as you start using more energy over autumn and winter. If you’re on a standard variable tariff, it’s also worth factoring in the October energy price cap change.

If you have a large balance even after providing an up-to-date meter reading, some of that money might be more useful in your bank account.

On the other hand, if the credit has built up to help cover higher winter usage, taking all of it back could leave you needing to find more money later.

There isn’t one credit balance that is right for every household.

Your energy use, monthly Direct Debit and current balance all matter.

How to check how much energy credit you have

Start by logging into your supplier’s app or online account, or look at your latest bill.

Find your account balance and check whether it says you are in credit.

Next, make sure the balance is based on an up-to-date meter reading.

If your bills have been based on estimated readings, the credit shown on your account might change once your supplier has your actual usage.

Give your supplier a current meter reading if it needs one, then check your balance again.

If you have a smart meter, it’s still worth checking that your bills are using actual readings rather than estimates.

How to ask for a refund

If you decide you have more credit than you need, contact your supplier and tell them how much you would like refunded.

You don’t have to ask for the whole balance back.

Citizens Advice says you’ll need to give your supplier an up-to-date meter reading when claiming.

Your supplier might refuse a refund if it has a good reason.

For example, Citizens Advice says a small amount of credit during summer or autumn may be needed to cover higher bills during winter.

If your supplier refuses your request, it must explain why.

If your account repeatedly builds up a large amount of credit, it is also worth asking whether your monthly Direct Debit is set at the right level.

When leaving some credit could make sense

Don’t look at the £182 average and assume that’s the amount you should take back.

It’s simply the average balance among the households included in Ofgem’s figures.

Leaving some money in your energy account can make sense if you normally use much more gas and electricity during winter and want to spread those costs across the year.

That is particularly worth considering now we’re entering the colder months.

Before withdrawing anything, ask yourself:

• Is my balance based on a recent meter reading?
• How much do I normally use during winter?
• Is my current Direct Debit likely to cover that?
• Would taking this money now make my winter bills harder to manage?

If your balance still looks much larger than you are likely to need, asking for some of it back could be worth considering.

If the balance looks reasonable for your expected winter use, leaving it there could help prevent a shortfall later.

The important thing is to check.

A large credit balance shouldn’t simply sit there without you knowing why it’s building up or whether you are likely to need it.