How to Cancel Avro Energy in 2026
You can't cancel Avro Energy anymore. Avro stopped trading on 22 September 2021, and Ofgem moved its roughly 580,000 customers to Octopus Energy under the Supplier of Last Resort scheme. If you were an Avro customer, you are now an Octopus customer, so "cancelling Avro" really means switching away from Octopus to a new energy supplier.
Short answer: There is no live Avro Energy account to cancel. You are with Octopus now. To leave, apply to switch to another supplier. Former Avro accounts carry no exit fee, and your new supplier runs the switch for you. Do not cancel your direct debit as your first move.
Last updated: June 2026
Is Avro Energy still a company I can cancel?
No. Avro Energy Limited ceased trading on 22 September 2021, and its licences to supply gas and electricity were revoked a few days later. It supplied around 580,000 homes when it collapsed. Since then there has been no Avro account, no Avro app, and no Avro billing to switch off.
Ofgem appointed Octopus Energy as the "Supplier of Last Resort." That means your gas and electricity kept flowing and your account was moved to Octopus automatically. By spring 2022 almost all former Avro customers had been transferred. So if you are still searching for how to cancel Avro, the honest answer is that the thing you want to cancel is now an Octopus account. Verify your current supplier on a recent bill or in your online account before you do anything.
Where does the billing actually run now?
Directly. UK home energy is billed by direct debit or on receipt of a bill, straight from the supplier. There is no Apple App Store or Google Play subscription in the middle. That matters because you cannot make this stop by deleting an app or tapping "cancel subscription" on your phone. The only way to leave is to move your supply to another company, which is a regulated switch, not an app tap.
How do I leave (switch away) as a former Avro customer?
Here is the concrete path. Read it before you touch your direct debit.
- Confirm who supplies you now. Check a recent bill or log in at the supplier's site. Former Avro customers were placed on a Flexible Octopus tariff. Confirm it is Octopus and note your account number.
- Take a meter reading today. Photograph your gas and electricity meters. Accurate readings on switch day are what stop you being over-billed later.
- Compare tariffs and pick a new supplier. Use a comparison site or go direct to a supplier you want. Because you came in through the Supplier of Last Resort scheme, Octopus does not charge an exit fee when you leave.
- Apply through the new supplier, not the old one. You do not phone Octopus to "cancel." Your new supplier starts the switch, contacts the old one, and sends over your final meter readings. The switch itself typically completes in around five working days once you have confirmed.
- Do not cancel your direct debit yet. Ofgem's own guidance says former Avro customers do not need to cancel their direct debit. Let the switch finish and the final bill settle first. Cancelling early can leave a balance chasing you.
- Watch for the final bill and any credit. Any credit Avro owed you was protected and moved to your Octopus account. When you switch away, you should get a final statement. If you are in credit, request the refund back to your bank.
Where is the "cancel" button really, and what is the catch?
There is no cancel button, and that is the buried detail. People expect a "close account" link somewhere in Avro or Octopus settings. Energy does not work that way. You end a supply by starting a new one elsewhere. The catch to watch: cancelling your direct debit before the switch completes does not cancel the supply. It just stops payment on an account that is still live, which can create arrears. Switch first, let the final bill land, then stop the direct debit if it has not already closed itself.
What if there is still money owed or a charge I do not recognise?
When Avro failed, its domestic customers collectively held a large amount of credit, reported at around 90 million pounds, and those balances were protected under Ofgem's safety net and moved to Octopus. Your own balance depends entirely on your account, so treat any headline average as context, not as a figure you are owed. If you think you are owed a refund and it never appeared, contact your current supplier in writing and ask for your final Avro balance and your Octopus credit position. If a charge on your bank statement looks wrong or duplicated, you can dispute a credit card or bank charge with your bank, and you can escalate an unresolved energy complaint to the Energy Ombudsman.
How to cancel Avro Energy: method comparison
| Method | What you do | Effort | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Switch via new supplier | Apply with a new energy company; they run the switch and collect final readings | Low to medium | Supply moves in about 5 working days; no exit fee for former Avro accounts |
| Contact Octopus directly | Use the Octopus Avro help form or email to ask about credit and final billing | Low | Good for refund and balance questions; does not itself move your supply |
| Cancel direct debit first | Stop the payment at your bank before switching | Low | Not recommended; supply stays live and you can build arrears |
| Put Karen on it | Tell Karen the supplier and the problem; Karen drafts the switch or refund request and handles the back-and-forth | Lowest | Karen does the legwork. Outcome is not guaranteed and depends on your supplier and account. |
Common questions
Can I still cancel Avro Energy directly in 2026?
No. Avro stopped trading in September 2021 and no longer exists. Your account was moved to Octopus Energy, so there is nothing at Avro to cancel. Confirm your current supplier on a recent bill.
Will I pay an exit fee to leave?
Former Avro customers moved to Octopus under the Supplier of Last Resort scheme are not charged an exit fee to switch away. Confirm current terms with your supplier, as tariffs and rules change.
Should I cancel my direct debit to stop the charges?
Not as your first step. Ofgem says former Avro customers do not need to cancel their direct debit. Switch supplier first, let the final bill settle, then stop the payment if it has not already closed.
What happened to the credit I had with Avro?
Domestic credit balances were protected under Ofgem's safety net and transferred to your new Octopus account. If you are owed money and it never appeared, ask your current supplier in writing for your final balance.
How long does switching take?
Once you confirm a switch with a new supplier, it typically completes in around five working days. Your new supplier handles the old account and the final meter readings.
Chasing a defunct supplier and a refund that never showed up is exactly the kind of grind Karen takes off your plate. Karen drafts the switch and the refund request, then handles the replies.