Find The Right Energy Deal
Many people find the prospect of switching energy supplier to be daunting. They worry it will be time-consuming, complicated and disruptive – and simply not worth the hassle.
But switching is straightforward. You answer a few questions to find the most competitive deals, and when you switch, there’ll be no interruption to your supply, and no need for work at your home unless you upgrade your meters.
There are still only a handful of switching deals on the open market, which is taking a while to return to normality following the upheaval of the past two years, when prices rocketed to unprecedented levels because of a squeeze on supplies. But we expect more deals to become available in the coming months and weeks, and we’ll keep this page updated when they are launched.
Our energy tariff comparison service lets you check what is available for your home – simply provide us with a few details about your property and energy usage and we’ll show you the deals that could save you money.
Top UK energy suppliers in 2024
Methodology
Using our online comparison tool, powered by our energy price comparison partner, uSwitch, we ran quotes (August 2024), to review dual-fuel tariff energy deals.
Our research is based on a typical 2-3 bedroom property with an annual electricity usage of 2,700 kWh and an annual gas usage of 11,500 kWh.
We have assumed this household pays for energy monthly via direct debit.
We then ranked each energy deal based on the following factors:
- price: how much the tariff costs
- green energy: whether this tariff offers energy from renewable sources, and in what proportion and mix
- customer service: based on Trustpilot
- exit fees: how much it costs to leave a fixed deal before the term ends once the 14-day cooling off period ends.
We awarded each policy a Forbes Advisor star rating out of five.
Energy switching – a step-by-step guide
With competitive tariffs beginning to reappear, switching may become attractive once more. Here is a reminder of how the process works.
Finding a better tariff to move to should only take 10 minutes and the whole process of switching should take no longer than 21 days thanks to guidance from the energy regulator, Ofgem.
To help you get started, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to switch…
Step 1: Find a few bits of information
It’s worthwhile having the following information to hand when you compare tariffs – it will all be on a recent bill or your online account:
- name of your current supplier
- name of your energy tariff
- How much gas and electricity you use – this usually needs to be stated in kilowatt hours (kWh) over the past year and will be contained in your annual summary.
If you can’t find the information or you just fancy seeing what’s available, you can run a quote using estimates and our suggested answers. These can be amended further down the line.
You’ll also need personal information such as your postcode, what type of building you live in, how many people live at the property and when during the day and night it is usually occupied.
Step 2: Compare available tariffs
Our comparison service, when it returns, will allow you to search for the most competitive tariff.
You simply answer the questions to be shown a list of tariffs from which to choose. You can filter your results to narrow down your choice, specifying details such as payment method, customers service levels and green options.
The types of tariffs you’ll see include:
- Fixed rate: where the amount you pay per unit of gas or electricity remains the same for the term of the deal, usually 12 or 24 months.
- Variable: where the amount you pay per unit of gas or electricity can change during the term of your plan. Your supplier must provide 30 days’ notice of any changes.
- Economy 7: you’ll be charged a different amount per unit of electricity depending on the time of use. Using energy at night will cost less than using it during the day (you need a special meter to access this type of deal, along with storage heaters that release warmth accumulated overnight during the following day).
Tariffs are available separately for gas and electricity supply, but ‘dual fuel’ tariffs bundle both types of energy together under one contract with a single supplier. This can be cheaper, and it gives you one bill and one point of contact.
Step 3: Check your tariff is right for you
Once you’ve found a tariff to switch to, it is worth checking the terms and conditions to make sure you’re happy. If you choose a fixed rate tariff, there may be an exit fee to pay if you decide to get out of your contract early, so check how much this will cost.
For example, the exit fee might be £30 per fuel, so if you had a dual fuel tariff, you’d face a charge of £60 to get out early. But bear in mind that exit fees cannot be applied within 42 days of your tariff’s end date, leaving you plenty of time to find another competitive deal in 12 or 24 months and avoid slipping onto a default tariff..
Some tariffs also require you to have a smart meter, so if you don’t already have one you will need to get one fitted (the supplier will arrange this for you). All households in England, Scotland and Wales must be offered a smart meter by the end of 2025.
Step 4: Set the ball rolling on your switch
If you’re happy to proceed once you’ve identified a competitive tariff, the next step is to confirm the switch. We’ll direct you to a confirmation page where you can provide your full address and bank details.
You can then sit back and wait. You do not need to tell your original supplier you are switching as your new supplier will handle the process and arrange a switching date. Your new supplier should contact you within two weeks to confirm this.
In due course, you’ll be asked to provide meter readings to your old and new suppliers on the day of the switch-over, and your old supplier will then send you a final bill.
You should receive your final bill from your old supplier no later than six weeks after the switch. Any credit from your old energy account will be refunded within 14 days of your final bill. If your old account is in debit, you’ll have to settle up at this point.
Rest assured there will be no interruption to your gas and electricity supply during the switch as your new supplier will use the same wires and pipes.
How long does it take to switch?
Ofgem, the UK energy market regulator, which licenses energy providers, requires them to switch your energy supply within five working days, which includes the statutory 14-day cooling-off period, during which you can change your mind without penalty and stick with your current deal (or find another one).
If you do change your mind, you’ll need to let the new supplier know within those 14 days.
Under the guarantee, the transfer process is handled by the provider you are switching to. This means if a problem occurs during the switch, it is your new supplier’s responsibility to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
What if something goes wrong?
Under rules set out by the UK energy regulator, Ofgem, you may be automatically entitled to compensation if something goes wrong during the switching process.
The rules state that compensation of £30 must be paid if:
- The process of switching supplier takes longer than 15 working days (this will reduce to five days from 1 April 2024) following the 14-day cooling-off period
- You do not receive a credit refund within 10 working days of your original supplier sending your final bill
- Your final bill is not received within six weeks of leaving your old supplier
- You are switched by mistake.
If several of these issues occur at once, you are entitled to £30 for each of them.
Compensation should be paid automatically, but if you don’t receive it, let your new or original supplier know.
Switching if you rent your home
If you rent your home, you can still switch energy supplier providing it is your name on the bills. This will mean the account is held in your name, so you are entitled to compare tariffs and find a more competitive deal. That said, it is best to let your landlord know you want to switch before proceeding.
If you live in a property where your bills are added to your rent or the landlord pays the energy supplier directly, you will need to ask your landlord whether it is possible to switch to a better deal if you think there are savings to be had.
What if you’re on a prepayment meter?
If you are on a prepayment meter – where you pay for your energy on a pay-as-you-go basis using a pre-loaded card, key or app – you can still switch tariffs if you find a better deal.
You may also be able to switch to a credit meter and pay for your bills by direct debit.
This will be dependent on your credit rating, but if your supplier agrees, you will need to have a new meter installed in your home so that you can then move to a cheaper tariff.
Be aware that switching meters can take longer than switching provider and you may have to pay a fee to cover the cost of the installation.
Again, if you are renting, you will need to clear any change to your metering arrangements with your landlord.
Some households opt for a prepayment plan in order to budget better for their energy usage. Others may be forced to use a prepayment meter by their supplier if they are struggling to pay their energy bills.
As of 1 July, prepayment meter customers are no longer charged more than those paying by direct debit.
The government has removed the ‘prepayment premium’, which it says will reduce energy bills for the approximately three million households across the UK that use prepayment meters. It says affected households should see a saving of £21 a year on energy bills.
Big versus smaller ‘challenger’ energy companies
For many years the UK energy market was dominated by the Big Six energy suppliers – British Gas, EDF Energy, E.ON, npower, Scottish Power and SSE.
However, in recent years, the shape of the energy market has started to change following a rise in the number of smaller energy suppliers.
These so-called ‘challenger’ brands, which include Ovo Energy and Octopus, have rapidly started to grow in popularity.
Ovo Energy recently bought SSE’s customer portfolio, and Octopus is buying the customer base of Shell, making it the second biggest energy supplier behind British Gas.
Ofgem operates a safety net which means that, if an energy company goes bust, its customers are automatically transferred to a new firm, with a guarantee of no interruption to supply. So if you decide to opt for one of the smaller, lesser known brands, you can do so with confidence.
The main appeal of the challenger brands is that they can offer cheaper deals, and they often receive higher customer service ratings. Many also offer ‘green’ or environmentally friendly tariffs.
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