Best UK Energy Suppliers

If you haven’t switched provider recently you are probably on an expensive standard variable rate or ‘default’ tariff. According to Ofgem, the energy market regulator, 53% of households are on this type of tariff – and switching could save them over £300 a year.
Choosing a provider should only take a few minutes. Here are the key factors to take into account to find the best provider for you.

Price

Perhaps the most obvious factor to consider when choosing an energy provider is price. While you could make great savings by opting for the cheapest tariff, price should be considered in addition to other factors that are important to you, such as customer service. It may be worth paying £10 more per year to a company that has short waiting times on the phone, responds quickly to emails, and boasts a good record when it comes to complaints.

Payment method

To help you narrow down the choice, you can refine your search by choosing, for example, how you would like to pay – monthly by direct debit, or quarterly on receipt of your bill. In some cases, you can pay by cheque or even cash, but most providers encourage payments direct from your bank account, with some offering a discount – typically 5% – if you pay monthly and manage your account online.

Green considerations

As the UK aims for net zero carbon emissions by 2050, many energy companies are building their green energy offering. This is where certain smaller challenger brands come into their own, offering only green renewable electricity or even a vegan energy offering, where animals are not used in energy production.

Exit fees

If you’re contemplating a fixed-rate, fixed-term tariff, look out for a charge for leaving the deal before the end of your contracted term – this is known as the exit fee, and is only worth paying if you have found a much cheaper deal to switch to.

*We first ranked all energy suppliers based on their cheapest tariff price. The top 10 were then scored across five data points of equal weighting, ranging from quality of customer service to green credentials (September 2021).

Standard variable rate/default tariff

You are likely to be on a standard variable rate, or ‘default’ tariff, if you have never switched energy provider or haven’t done so for a couple of years. These tariffs are typically the most expensive on the market. Energy providers typically roll customers onto this type of tariff once they come to the end of their deal term, which is why it is important to remember to switch again.

Fixed tariff

Unlike a default/variable tariff, a fixed tariff guarantees that you will pay a set amount for a unit of energy throughout a specified term – usually 12 or 24 months. It is often the cheaper option, and you know there will be no price rise during the term.

Economy 7/10

Some providers offer Economy 7 and Economy 10 tariffs which charge a different price for a unit of energy in the day than at night. The number following Economy refers to the number of hours you will be charged lower night-time rates.

You’ll need storage heaters to make the best use of such a tariff. You’ll also have a special meter.

Cooling-off period

During the cooling-off period, which is the first 14 days of your contract, you are allowed to opt out of the deal if you change your mind, at no cost. You’ll simply continue with your existing provider and tariff.

Annual statement

A document provided by the provider to a customer detailing their tariff, consumption over the past 12 months, and an estimate of the next year’s energy costs.

Automatic contract rollover

Under the terms of most energy contracts, once you have reached the end of the specified term for a fixed term tariff, your provider can extend it automatically or roll you on to another fixed contract unless you switch to a different deal.

kWh/ mWh

kWh stands for kilowatt-hour, the unit of measure used by energy providers to calculate your gas and electricity consumption. A 1000 kWh is a megawatt-hour (mWh).

Large/Big Six energy providers

The UK’s biggest energy suppliers (often called the ‘Big Six’) supply around 60% of households. They are British Gas, E.ON UK, OVO/SSE, RWE nPower, EDF Energy and ScottishPower

Ombudsman Services: Energy

Customers can escalate complaints which they feel have not been adequately resolved by their provider to the ombudsman, which deals specifically with energy suppliers and energy network operators.

Standing charge

A daily or monthly fee that you pay your provider to supply your energy, including maintenance costs.

Exit fees

If you have a fixed rate, fixed term tariff and you decide to switch to another deal before the end of the term, you may be charged an exit fee by your provider – this could be £30 per fuel (gas and electricity) or more. But exit fees cannot be charged if you are within 42 days of your tariff’s scheduled end date.

Energy Switch Guarantee

If a supplier is a member of Energy Switch Guarantee, it must complete 98% of its switches within 21 days.

Vulnerability Commitment

If a supplier is a member of the Vulnerability Commitment it must promise to provide enhanced support to those who are fighting illness or are in financial difficulty.