Indeed 1.87 million accounts moved over to independent energy providers in 2015 and for the first time independent suppliers now serve more than 15% of the market for duel fuel customers. Five years ago they had just a 0.6% market share.

At the same time the market share of the Big Six firms fell 3.6% last year, from 88.4% to 84.5%, and independents now collectively serve more of the duel fuel share market than all but one of the Big Six. Leading the way for the independents is First Utility which now commands a 4.1% market share of the dual fuel market.

Robert Buckley, a director at Cornwall Energy, said: “The new data shows a major improvement on the apathy of five years ago. The independents have achieved dramatic results in driving engagement and encouraging people to switch.”

In the last quarter alone the data shows that 465,000 energy accounts left the incumbents, while the independents gained 565,000.

Ed Kamm, the UK managing director at First Utility, said: “The significant growth of independents shows that people are continuing to turn away from the established order in search of better deals and services.