Your Guide to Finding the Best Energy Deal
Find out all you need to know about your energy, including where to find the best
Finding the Best Energy Deal: Which Provider is Best?
Find out all you need to know about your energy, including where to find the best deal for you.
Everyone relies on energy. It’s a common cost among everyone in the UK, regardless of your living situation. Where (and who) you get it from depends on your situation but, as you know, plenty of providers out there are willing to add you to their list of customers.Â
But which energy provider is best? And how can you make your current energy bill cheaper? This page answers all of these questions, and, as well as that, it will show you exactly how to get the best energy deal for you. There’s a lot to learn about energy though, and if you don’t understand exactly how it works or how your bill is worked out, read our ultimate guide on energy.
Which is the Best Energy Provider?
We know it can be difficult to know where to look for an energy deal, especially if you’ve been on the same contract and provider for some time. Luckily for you though, we’ve done the research for you.
This article will go through what’s known as the ‘big six’. These are the main energy providers that have come to dominate the UK market in recent years and, while there are still several independent providers out there, the chances are you’ll be getting your energy from one of the big six. Click the provider you want to find out about to read more about them.
Why It's Best to Compare Energy Deals
It goes without saying that you want to get the best energy deal you can; it’s one of your biggest monthly costs and one of your most unavoidable ones. For these reasons, finding an energy deal that suits you is important. The best way to do this? Compare.
Comparing energy deals means you can unlock numerous benefits, including cheaper bills, better customer service and more favourable terms on your contract. Such things might seem like fairly small changes, but the result is ultimately an energy deal that suits you better than your current one. What’s not to like about that?
Obviously, due to the cap on the price of a unit of energy, all the providers we’ll mention here will charge roughly the same, depending on your choice of tariff. That’s why we’ve focused on other things like customer service, commitment to green energy, and customer experience.
The Energy Price Cap
The energy price cap is a government-imposed limit on how energy suppliers in the UK can charge people for each unit of gas and electricity they use. Since its introduction in 2019, the energy price cap has been concerned with standard variable tariffs (the most common tariff people are on) and prepayment meters. It is decided by Ofgem, which reviews the cap four times per year.
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With over 7.5 million customers on their books, British Gas is the biggest of all UK energy suppliers, which makes it a good place to start. Its size is largely due to its acquisition of Shell, M&S Energy, and Avro customers over the last few years. Its size makes it dependable, with minimal risk of it going bankrupt anytime soon.
Its customer experience isn’t too shoddy either. Its Energy360DataView, for example, allows you to see, track and manage your energy usage, while its provision of zero-carbon electricity as standard adds to its appeal. As well as this, there’s a range of contracts on offer and you can submit your meter readings online at your own convenience.
If British Gas’s provision of zero-carbon electricity tickled your fancy, EDF Energy will appeal to you even more. It is Britain’s largest producer of zero-carbon electricity, using wind, nuclear and solar energy to power a huge 5 million customers across the UK.
This makes it one of the greenest energy companies in the country. Similar to British Gas, it’s been a big player for some time, making it a dependable supplier.
E.ON Next, a subsidiary of the old E.ON, is the third largest energy supplier in the UK. Like other providers you’ll see on this list, its energy comes from 100% renewable sources. While this is mainly good for the planet, it’s also good for your wallet, as energy from green sources is cheaper; a trend that looks like continuing. Today, E.ON Next has 5.6 million customers in the UK.
Octopus Energy is a fairly new player in the industry, especially compared to others on this list. It formed in 2015 and, since then, has become a major provider for people across the UK. Its meteoric rise is down to a few things, such as its early investment in the latest technologies and green energy. They’re also known for fair pricing, great customer service, and easy-to-understand services.
In line with its commitment to technology, the company offer cheap EV smart charging and six hours of cheap electricity overnight and, as well as this, offers you the chance to sell your energy for a flat rate if it’s produced with solar panels.
While not as new to the industry as Octopus, OVO is still a relatively new addition to the energy industry’s big players. Starting in 2009, it became a big player in 2020, when it took all of SSE’s 3.5 million customers to bring its total customer base to 5 million across the UK. Like with all of the ‘big six’, OVO’s size makes them dependable, but its discounts for off-peak usage, free annual boiler service, and numerous benefits for having an electric vehicle, are just some of the things that single it out.
ScottishPower provides 100% renewable electricity, all of which is produced by its wind farms, making it that little bit cheaper. As well as this, and to stand out from the crowd, you can enjoy half-price energy between 11am and 4pm every Saturday and Sunday, get same-day response for broken boilers, and charge your electric vehicle for as little as 10p per kWh².Â
Which Energy Tariff is Best For You?
Before you can start saving money, it’s first important to get to grip on how exactly energy contracts work. They come in different shapes and sizes. Some are long contracts with fixed terms, while others are short and flexible.Â
We recommend you take the time to familiarise yourself with these different types and figure out which one works best for your business. Keep reading to find out which contract type would best suit you.
Fixed Rate Tariffs
With a fixed rate tariff, the price you pay for each unit of energy is, as the name suggests, fixed. Being on a fixed rate tariff means you pay the same price for the length of your contract, regardless of market fluctuations. This of course means that you will be protected from price rises for the duration of your contract, which can be up to 12 years.
However, you should also be aware that you’ll pay your agreed price even when prices go down, which they often do in the summer months. These kinds of contracts also tend to come with exit fees. Fixed tariffs do, however, make budgeting a lot easier.
Variable Tariffs
Opposite to fixed tariffs, your price per unit will be determined by the market conditions. These prices will typically change every three months (once per quarter), with reviews of the price taking place in January, April, July, and October; in line with Ofgems price cap reviews. Unlike fixed rate tariffs, variable tariffs don’t usually come with exit fees, so you can leave anytime without penalty.
In addition, you’ll benefit from a drop in energy prices, as they’ll be passed on to you. If the price increases, however, your energy bill will reflect this as well, which is something to keep in mind.
Prepayment Tariff
With a prepayment tariff, you pay for your energy in advance using a prepayment meter. It works a lot like a pay-as-you-go mobile phone, whereby you top up your meter with credit, and energy is supplied until the credit runs out.Â
These tariffs are often used by households that want more control over their spending, as they mean you can keep track of what you’re spending and when you’re spending it.
How to Save Money on Your Energy Bill
Recent years have seen energy bills sore. The average bill shot up as a result of the energy crisis, which started in 2021. Millions of people across the UK were left struggling to pay their bills and, as of January 2025, 6.1 million people in the UK were in fuel poverty.
Considering these facts, you’re probably keen to know ways to cut your bill, so we’ve made a quick, easy-to-read list with some of the most simple ways to do just that:
- Turn your thermostat down by one degree.
- Turn down your radiators in less-used rooms.
- Wash your clothes on a cooler setting.
- Get a more water-efficient showerhead.
Did You Know: Going Green Can Save You Money
As you’ve seen, many of the biggest providers in the UK have a particularly large focus on providing their customers with green energy. There’s a good reason for this. As well as the fact that the government wants to be net zero by 2050, green energy is also cheaper. Cheaper for providers to provide, and cheaper for consumers to consume.
If you like the sound of cheaper energy bills, here are some tips on how to be more green.Â
- Install extra insulation to reduce the amount of heat that escapes your house.
- Invest in solar panels
- Upgrade to an electric car
- Explore the possibility of a heat pump (the government could give you £7,500 towards the cost)
Should You Switch Energy Provider?
If you’ve read the above, you might think switching your energy supplier could save you money, and you’d be right. Thankfully, the process of switching is easy. Remember, it’s the same gas and it’s the same electricity. All that changes is your customer service and, hopefully, your bill.
To get started, just answer the question below to start our quick form. From there, you’ll be able to compare prices from different providers and choose the one that best suits you. Best of all, you’ll be able to use the above information to inform your decision.Â
It’s a completely free service, and there’s no obligation to commit to anything if you don’t want to. What are you waiting for? See how much you could save today…
FAQs
Your Questions Answered
How is my energy bill worked out?
Knowing exactly what you pay for is important for understanding your bill. This way, if you switch providers, you’ll know how to make the right choice of provider. The chargers on your bill include more than just the energy you use, with the below also being included.
- Standing charges
- Pass-through cost
- Maintenance costs
- Late payment fees
- VAT
How much can I save by switching my energy provider?
Because of all the different factors that come into play when determining the price of energy, it’s hard to give an exact answer.
However, finding out isn’t far away…you can compare energy quotes from various providers directly through Consumer Experts. Just click the button to the left to get started.
