Are you due a refund?

Martin Lewis says May is the ideal month to review your energy account and see whether you are holding too much credit with your supplier.

The reason is that early May is usually when balances in the yearly direct debit cycle reach their lowest point. From this stage onward, many households begin rebuilding credit to help cover energy use during the next winter period.

Main Points About Claiming Back Extra Credit

The “Six-Week” Guideline:
If your account currently holds more than roughly six weeks’ worth of your Direct Debit payments — around one and a half months — this could indicate that your monthly payments are higher than necessary.

Submit Accurate Meter Readings:
Before asking for any refund, it is important to provide an up-to-date meter reading, or check that your smart meter has recently transmitted one. This ensures the balance reflects your real usage rather than estimated figures.

Energy Suppliers’ Responsibilities:
Ofgem rules require suppliers to keep Direct Debits fair and reasonable. They are also expected to return excess credit when customers request it, as long as the account remains financially stable.

Steps to Review and Reclaim Credit

Sign in to your account:
Use your supplier’s app or website — such as British Gas, Octopus Energy, or OVO Energy — to review your current balance.

Compare your balance against your Direct Debit:
For example, if you pay £200 per month and your account is sitting more than £300 in credit during May, there is a strong chance you could reclaim some of that money.

Ask for the refund:
Many providers now offer refund requests through online account management tools, live chat, or Direct Debit settings pages.

Review old supplier accounts:
If you have changed providers recently, it is also worth checking closed accounts, as millions of pounds in unused customer credit is still believed to be sitting with former suppliers.

Important:
Energy analysts expect the Energy Price Cap to increase in July 2026. Because of this, some households may decide to leave a modest amount of credit on their account to help manage potentially higher bills later in the year.