Energy Comparison

Energy comparison allows you to compare energy prices and deals in the market. Check today if there are any deals available for your home.

Switch to a fixed energy deal today and benefit from:

  • The security of fixed energy rates.
  • A better deal on your energy prices.
  • A choice of the source of your energy.
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Comparing energy prices in 2024

Have you been requesting quotes for your home energy but have been unable to find any that offer savings?

It seems weird, right? Despite the fall in energy prices, suppliers are not offering savings on fixed-rate energy deals.

Our energy experts anticipate that better deals will become available in April 2024. Continue reading to understand why.

Why are there no good energy deals?

We (and other comparison websites) are presently unable to offer any significant savings on fixed energy deals. Given the marginal savings available, our experts recommend waiting until spring 2024 for potentially more advantageous deals. Here’s the three reasons why:

Volatile energy prices: In 2021, as businesses resumed operations after the global pandemic, demand for gas surged. This coincided with supply shortages exacerbated by the conflict in Ukraine, leading to a steep increase in gas and electricity prices. In this environment of volatile energy prices, suppliers are hesitant to offer cheap fixed-rate tariffs.

Ban on acquisition-only tariffs: During the energy crisis, Ofgem, the UK’s energy regulator, prohibited suppliers from offering cheaper tariffs solely to new customers. A market stabilisation charge was also introduced, penalising energy suppliers for taking on new customers. Both measures are set to expire in March 2024, after which we anticipate significantly more competitive offers in the market.

Source: Ofgem – Future of the Market Stabilisation Charge post March 2024.

Energy Price Cap: Ofgem currently enforces a maximum price, known as the energy price cap, on variable rate tariffs for gas and electricity. This cap protects consumers by limiting supplier profitability and constrains suppliers’ capacity to offer discounts to new customers.

For further guidance, please refer to our comprehensive guide: Should I Fix My Energy Prices Until 2024?

What support is available if I’m struggling with my energy bills?

Currently, energy suppliers and the government offer several schemes to reduce the cost of your energy and help manage your bills. Read through our guide on getting help paying your energy bills and see the different types of support currently available.

Energy suppliers to compare the latest deals from!

Compare energy deals today from these trusted energy suppliers. Compare each supplier, switch to the best energy supplier, and secure the best rates!

Energy Comparison

E.ON is one of the largest UK energy suppliers, providing 100% renewable electricity to over 5 million UK homes and has invested over £3 billion pounds in UK green power generation.

As well as supplying electricity and gas to UK homes, E.ON helps customers improve their sustainability with exclusive discounts on solar panels, energy-efficient boilers and EV chargers.

E.ON Energy

Energy Comparison

ScottishPower supplies 100% green energy to homes using renewable electricity generated from their 40 UK wind farms.

ScottishPower offers a free heat pump under the ECO4 scheme to all homes they supply with a poor energy efficiency rating. ScottishPower also offers free installation of a smart energy meter to provide their customers with energy-saving insights through their award-winning app.

Scottish Power

Energy Comparison

British Gas is the biggest home energy supplier in the UK, with over a 20% market share according to the latest Ofgem statistics.

British Gas offers a variety of home energy tariffs to new and existing customers, including the Green Future tariff that provides 100% renewable electricity with an entirely offset gas supply through investment in conservation projects around the world.

British Gas

Energy Comparison

EDF is the UK’s biggest generator of zero-carbon electricity through their wind, nuclear and solar generation assets.

EDF supplies zero-carbon electricity as a standard to their domestic customers. EDF prides itself in offering amazing customer support and has a ‘great’ Trustpilot score from over 60,000 reviews.

EDF Energy

Energy Comparison

Since 2020 SSE’s 4 million home energy customers have transferred to be supplied as part of the Ovo Energy Family.

Ovo Energy is a relatively new brand in the world of energy suppliers, only launched in 2009. Since then, Ovo has become one of the biggest domestic energy suppliers and has planted a million trees as part of its net-zero strategy.

SSE

Energy Comparison

Octopus Energy supplies over 5 million UK homes with their award-winning renewable electricity and boasts an excellent Trustpilot score with over 100,000 reviews.

Octopus Energy has become adept at collecting awards being a Which? Recommended Retailer, as well as winning the uSwitch Energy Supplier of the Year award three times in the last four years.

Octopus Energy

Energy Comparison

Utilita was formed in 2003 to help households who were being poorly served and overcharged by due to the dominance of the Big 6.

Utilita is the only home energy supplier offering no standing charge on all their tariffs. Utilita provides advice and support to its customers to improve home energy efficiency.

Utilita Energy

Energy Comparison

Ecotricity was the first UK domestic energy supplier to offer a green electricity product. Ecotricity boldly aims to eradicate fossil fuels completely and is working towards replacing its natural gas with green biogas.

Ecotricity sets the price of its domestic tariffs to allow it to invest in the building of new sources of green energy. Ecotricity is a not-for-dividend company that reinvests all its earnings into the mission of ending fossil fuels.

Ecotricity

Energy Comparison

Shell Energy is transitioning from its old business model of being one of the world’s biggest oil companies to a trusted provider of home utilities.

Shell Energy offers a 100% renewable electricity supply to UK homes alongside their home broadband service. Shell Energy has consistently provided excellent customer service across its home products and boasts a 4.3 Trustpilot score from over 60,000 reviews.

Shell Energy

What details do I need to check energy market rates?

Checking energy market rates for your home is simple. We need the following details:

Your Home Address?

We’ll need your home address to find your property’s most accurate home energy quotes. Remember that energy rates vary by location and your payment method.

What would you like to compare?

Energy supplied to your property comprises electricity and/or gas, so we’ll need to know what you need. Most properties in the UK require both, and most energy suppliers offer cheaper rates if you opt for a dual fuel tariff (both at the same time).

Who is your current supplier?

We’ll need to know who your current energy supplier is to see if a better rate can be negotiated with them directly.

How do you pay for your energy?

Your payment method will influence your rates, so we must also know this. This could be a monthly direct debit, quarterly direct debit, cash/cheque or pre-payment meter. You may change your payment method once you have chosen your supplier.

Do you have an Economy 7 meter?

Let us know if you already have an Economy 7 meter. This means you have a multi-rate tariff with ‘peak’ and ‘off-peak’ rates.

If you’re unsure:

  • Your meter should clearly display two rates or even ‘Economy 7’.
  • Your ‘meter point administration number’ on your energy bill starts with 02.

What is your existing tariff name?

Select your existing tariff from the drop-down menu (if you know it!). If you don’t, select “I’m not sure / Not listed”, and we’ll compare your quotes with your supplier’s default tariff.

Your energy usage

Provide us with your monthly, quarterly or annual typical energy use (depending on how it’s displayed on your bill) so that we can find the best possible deal tailored to your typical consumption.

This is because your energy bill comprises the following:

  • Unit rate in pence per kWh and
  • Standing charge in pence per day

Suppliers compete with each other by offering a unique combination of both, so having your energy use will help us optimise the comparison.

For example, if your property is rarely occupied and has a very low energy consumption, a no-standing charge tariff may be your best choice!

Do you have an electric vehicle?

Let us know if you have or are considering buying an EV, as it drastically changes your energy consumption habits. Unless you already have a variable or multi-rate tariff, remaining on your default energy tariff will undoubtedly lead to heftier energy bills!

Extended Reading:

Summary

Thats it! This is all the information we need to provide you with the best home energy quotes.

Choose from what is available and instantly switch online.

Why are energy bills currently so high?

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has reduced the natural gas supply to the European continent, causing energy prices to soar.

Electricity and gas prices on the wholesale markets exceed the government-imposed energy price cap. This unprecedented situation means suppliers are not offering fixed-rate contracts to new customers.

We will continue monitoring the market and returning when it’s stabilised and better energy deals are available. Read our full breakdown of the wholesale energy market here.

 

How to compare energy prices

To compare energy prices, simply:

Enter your postcode.

Enter your postcode.

Enter your postcode and your energy usage to begin the comparison.

Compare our energy deals.

Compare our energy deals.

Compare deals from across the market and choose your new tariff and supplier.

Complete the switch!

Complete the switch!

Choose your preferred energy deal. Confirm it and complete the final details, and we’ll take care of the switch on your behalf.

How long does it take to switch energy suppliers?

Most energy suppliers offer the Energy Switch Guarantee that assures a reliable and hassle-free switch in just twenty-one days.

Once you’ve selected an energy tariff, you can cancel over the next 14 days. This is called your “cooling-off period”.

Your energy switch will be taken care of with no loss of service. You’re existing supplier will be notified of your transfer and will issue a final bill. It’s as easy as that.

Here’s what happens:

What happens when you switch your energy supplier?

Once you’ve signed up with your new energy provider, they’ll contact you to confirm your switching date.

Your new supplier will ask for an up-to-date meter reading, which will be passed on to your old supplier, who will send you a final energy bill.

There will be no physical work to complete your switch to the new energy supplier. No reconnecting pipes or heavy drilling. Just a lot of work in the background, which your old and new suppliers will resolve between them

You’ll be kept in the loop and notified when the switch will happen and that it’s all going ahead. Just sit back and relax!

Check out our complete guide to switching energy suppliers.

Who is the cheapest energy supplier?

There isn’t a single cheapest supplier – a few factors contribute to it being the cheapest energy supplier. Energy suppliers price based on various attributes, including your location, usage, tariff type, and length of energy contract.

These vary from household to household, so the cheapest supplier for one household may not be the cheapest for another home. That’s why it’s essential to compare energy prices in detail before deciding.

Read our guide on why electricity is expensive.

The benefits of comparing energy prices

There are plenty of benefits to comparing energy prices. Here are a few key reasons you should compare the latest energy deals:

Save money.

Save money.

Compare the different energy deals out there and switch to a more competitive energy contract.

Improved service.

Improved service.

By switching energy suppliers, you can benefit from better customer service.

Switch to a renewable tariff!

Switch to a renewable tariff!

Switch to an eco-friendly, renewable energy tariff.

What energy tariffs are available?

Currently, due to the market’s overwhelming volatility, AquaSwitchcan’t compare energy tariffs for you at the moment. However, once the market settles, we will go back to comparing the following energy tariffs:

Fixed-rate tariffs

One of the most popular tariffs. A fixed-rate tariff guarantees you the energy rate over a set period, usually 12 to 18 months.

Fixed-rate tariffs are best for keeping an eye on your budget. If energy costs rise or decrease, you’ll stay at the same rate, allowing you to know exactly how much you’ll pay over the term per unit of energy used.

If you don’t fix another fixed rate term, your current energy supplier will move you onto a standard variable tariff.

Standard variable tariffs

A standard variable tariff is usually a supplier’s default contract and is directly influenced by the current prices in the energy market.

In a standard variable tariff, the price per unit kWh of electricity or gas is determined by the current wholesale market prices.

Confusingly, standard variable tariffs are currently offering the best deals due to the wholesale price of energy exceeding the consumer price cap.

Green tariffs

Green tariffs, also known as “renewable” or “eco” tariffs, eliminate the environmental impacts of supplying electricity or gas to your home.

In a green electricity tariff, your electricity comes from green energy sources like wind or solar power.

In a green gas tariff, your supplier will either invest in bio-gas or offset the greenhouse emissions associated with your supply by purchasing carbon credits.

Read our latest energy guides here:

  1. Energy tariffs explained
  2. A guide to green energy
  3. Energy saving tips
  4. Wholesale energy prices

Energy comparison – FAQs

Here are frequently asked questions about energy comparison.

Can I compare gas and electricity separately?

Yes, you can. You don’t always have to go for a dual-fuel contract. You can compare gas and electricity separately and have tariffs available separately.

Can I save money by switching energy suppliers?

In normal circumstances, yes, you can. Currently, finding savings or comparing at all is more complicated. However, we expect the energy market to normalise soon, allowing you to compare from various suppliers, each offering a variety of tariffs.

Will my gas and electricity be interrupted if I switch?

There will be no interruption to your energy supply when you switch energy suppliers. It’s a smooth transaction between your old and new supplier without any downtime in energy supply.

Do I need to notify my current supplier when I switch?

No, you don’t need to notify your old supplier if you switch to a new energy deal.👇

  • Your new supplier will contact you to confirm your switch date and request a final meter reading.
  • Your new supplier will send the details of your switch to your old supplier.
    You’ll receive a final bill from your old supplier shortly after the transfer.

What is the energy price cap?

The energy price cap limits the amount energy suppliers can charge for their default tariffs.

It includes capping the standing charge and the price per kWh of electricity and gas – but not your bill. Your bill depends on how much energy you consume.

Find out more with our guide to the energy price cap.

When will household energy comparison be available?

As of January 2024, only a few household energy suppliers offer fixed-rate tariffs. Some of these can be more expensive than the current energy price cap.

In the meantime, use our suite of free calculators to compare your default energy price cap rates to any fixed home energy tariffs that are currently available:

We expect that suppliers will start offering more fixed-rate tariffs below the current energy prices in April 2024.

Who has the best energy deals?

When the home energy market reopens, you will want to look at who has the best electricity and gas deals, but it comes down to more than just the electricity supplier. The best electricity deals available to your home depend on:

Energy consumption: The amount of energy your home uses will affect the price you pay per kWh.
Location: Where you are located in the country will affect the price you pay, as some locations are more expensive than others due to the availability of energy resources and demand for electricity in your area.
Contract Length: The contract length you choose can affect the price. Your supplier will generally offer a lower rate to reward you for taking out a longer contract.

There isn’t a singular best supplier for energy; you will need to shop around and compare the tariffs out there and see what works best for you.

Can I get a smart meter from my energy supplier?

Getting a smart meter depends entirely on whether your gas supplier offers them; location plays a part, too. The rollout of smart meters aims to fit a minimum of 85% of homes in the UK with smart meters by the end of 2024.

The best thing to do is to either log onto your supplier’s portal and request one or, failing that, to call their helpline to book a slot for an engineer to install one.

More information can be found in our guide on smart meters.