There are two distinct cases:
- You are in a contractual relationship with a supplier but do not have a signed written document as proof. This is the situation for a large proportion of the population whose first supply took place prior to the 1st of August 2007 and who have never signed a contract with their supplier. Nevertheless, under what is known as an implicit contract, you are supplied with energy by that supplier, usually for an indefinite period. This means that you have the right to terminate the contract at any time in order to change supplier, without having to give any notice period.
- You do not have a supply contract, not even implicitly. The law then provides for a specific supplier, known as the default supplier, to ensure the supply on an intermediate and temporary basis. The default supplier is designated by the ILR.
Six months after the start of this default supply, and if you have not yet signed a supply contract with the supplier of your choice, the default supply will automatically end and you will no longer be supplied with electricity. If you are being supplied by a default supplier, it is therefore essential to rectify the situation as soon as possible and sign a proper contract with the supplier of your choice.
Note also that default supply is generally more expensive than supply with a formal contract.