Compare energy plans

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Did you know that comparing energy plans actually saves you money? Well, we do! And, let’s be honest, who doesn’t like saving money? Let us explain what we mean in this article. Energy, in the form of gas and electricity, is provided by dozens of different companies all around the UK. They all offer different tariffs, rates, and offers for energy. As a homeowner or renter responsible for paying the bills you are entitled to compare energy plans and choose who you buy your energy from, and how.

Last updated: November 2022

As you may have heard on the news, the UK energy market crisis is driving up energy costs and putting several energy suppliers out of business. As a result, we have currently paused our supplier switching services, however, we hope to return as soon as possible. To learn more about this and stay updated you can read our page on the UK energy crisis.

How much do you pay for your gas and electricity every month? Is it more than you would like to be paying? There are a number of reasons why this might be:

  1. You use a lot of energy sapping appliances.
  2. You have old or outdated appliances that are sapping your energy.
  3. You have a large home that is costly to run.

However, perhaps the main reason you are paying too much for your energy might be that you are on the wrong plan or using the wrong energy provider for you. There is no best energy supplier, but there is a best one for you.

In fact, we can help you our with finding the best energy plans for your needs. At Switch Plan, we will search the market for you so you dont have to spend your well-deserved free time doing it. Sound good? All you have to do is give our experts a call at the number on the top of our screen.

If you have been with the same provider for years, the chances are you will be on the standard variable rate. Swapping your tariff or provider now could save you several hundred pounds each year.

What are the different types of energy plan?

There are two main types of energy tariffs for energy plans. One is the standard variable rate, which means you are not tied into a fixed contract and pay a varying rate depending on the overall cost of energy. The other is a fixed tariff, which means you are tied into a fixed price for energy for a specific period, usually 12 months.

Depending on your circumstances, you may be better suited to one of the other of the above. However, your energy decisions don’t end there. There are different types of energy plans which provide you with your power in different ways. Below we have outlined the main types of energy plan you can choose.

Single energy

This is when you choose your suppliers of gas and electricity separately. This might be because you can find a better deal for each fuel, although it is generally cheaper to go for a dual fuel option (see below). However, there are other reasons you might choose a single energy plan, such as not having a mains gas connection or getting your electricity from solar panels.

More info

If you would like to keep your gas and electricity suppliers separate, or only require one or the other, then a single plan is the right choice.

Dual fuel

A dual fuel plan is when you get your gas and electricity from the same supplier. Many people find these plans more convenient because they only get one bill each month and you only have to deal with one supplier if there is a problem. You can also get discounts by signing up to a dual fuel plan, as it has benefits for energy suppliers too.

Looking to minimise the amount of bills and correspondence you have to deal with and want a better overall rate? Then a dual fuel plan is the way to go.

The following shows the top live dual fuel deals on the market at the time of writing. Annual estimated costs are based on UK average unit rates and medium usage:


Cheapest Dual Fuel Live Tariffs
SupplierNameTypeAvailabilityAnnual CostGreen Tariff
Utility Warehouse logoDual FuelDouble Gold2,511.54*✖️
Utility Warehouse logoDual FuelPrepayment2,581.02*✖️
E energy logoDual FuelPrepayment Variable2,608.87*✖️

Prices vary from one city to another, so we display national averages
Based on 2,900.00 kWh of ⚡ and 12,000.00 kWh of 🔥 per year on average
Is a Green tariff if all the energy consumed is compensated by renewable energy injections in the grid.


Cheapest Dual Fuel Tariff

The cheapest dual fuel tariffs overall are listed below:


Cheapest Dual Fuel Tariffs
Supplier ™️Tariff 🏷️Tariff info 📋Electricity costs💰Gas costs 💰
Click energy logo/
Availability: ❌
Fixed - 24 months
Green elec: ✖️
£ 480.56£ 573.91
Click energy logo/
Availability: ❌
Fixed - 12 months
Green elec: ✖️
£ 480.56*£ 573.91*
EDF Energy logo/
Availability: ❌
Fixed - 12 months
Green elec: ✖️
£ 894.68*£ 443.50*

Prices vary from one city to another, so we display national averages
Based on Ofgem’s TDCV (2,900.00 kWh of ⚡ and 12,000.00 kWh of 🔥 per year).
A tariff is green if for each kWh consumed a kWh of renewable energy is injected in the grid.


Cheapest Dual Fuel Fixed Tariffs

Following you’ll find the fixed-rate energy tariffs.


Cheapest Dual Fuel Fixed Rate Tariffs
Supplier ™️Tariff 🏷️ Tariff info 📋 Electricity costs💰 Gas costs 💰
Click energy logo/
Availability: ❌
Fixed - 24 months
✖️
£ 480.56*£ 573.91*
Click energy logo/
Availability: ❌
Fixed - 12 months
Green elec: ✖️
£ 480.56*£ 573.91*
EDF Energy logo/ Availability: ❌Fixed - 12 months
Green elec: ✖️
£ 894.68*£ 443.50*

Prices differ on a postcode basis, this table therefore displays national averages
Based on the official TDCV : 2,900.00 kWh of ⚡ and 12,000.00 kWh of 🔥 per year
Is a Green tariff if all the energy consumed is compensated by renewable energy injections in the grid.


Cheapest Dual Fuel Variable Tariff

If you prefer the flexibility of a variable rate tariff, you’ll find the three cheapest ones below:


Cheapest Dual Fuel Variable Rate Tariff
Supplier ™️ Tariff 🏷️ Tariff info 📋 Electricity costs💰 Gas costs 💰
Octopus Energy logo/
Availability: ❌
Standard Variable
Green elec: ✔️
£ 649.88*£ 479.51*
Scottish Power logo/
Availability: ❌
$UK_NRJ_Partner_DF_SVT_type$
Green elec: ✖️
£ 1,778.80*£ 2,190.74*
Shell Energy logo/
Availability: ❌
Standard Variable
Green elec: ✖️
£ 650.56*£ 556.64*
M&S Energy logoStandard Variable
Availability: ❌
$UK_NRJ_2ndCheapest_DF_SVT_type$
Green elec: ✖️
£ 649.88*£ 489.52*

Prices displayed are national averages
Based on 2,900.00 kWh of ⚡ and 12,000.00 kWh of 🔥 per year on average
A Green tariff means the supplier injects in the grid the same amount of renewable energy that is consumed.


Economy 7

This is an energy plan known as a ‘differential tariff’ that aims to help you pay less for your electricity. You pay normal prices during the day but cheaper rates for seven hours during the night, which can be up to 50% less.

Are you a night owl or an early riser? Use more power during unsociable hours? Then Economy 7 could help you save.

Below you’ll find the currently 3 cheapest live Economy 7 tariffs:


Cheapest Economy 7 Live Tariffs
SupplierTariff TypeNameAvailabilityStanding ChargeUnit Rate Night Unit RateAnnual CostExit FeeGreen Tariff**
-----*-*-*£ -*£ --
-----*-*-*-*--

Prices displayed are national averages
Based on 2,900.00 kWh of ⚡ and 12,000.00 kWh of 🔥 per year on average
A Green tariff means the supplier injects in the grid the same amount of renewable energy that is consumed.


Cheapest Economy 7 Tariffs

The overall cheapest E7 tariffs are listed below:


Cheapest Economy 7 Tariffs
SupplierTariff NameAvailabilityStanding ChargesUnit RateNight Unit RateAnnual costsGreen Tariff**
Octopus Energy logo/27.48*20.52*14.04*£ 616.52*✔️
M&S Energy logo/27.48*20.52*14.04*£ 616.52*✖️
Shell Energy logo/27.49*21.73*12.42*£ 617.12*✖️

Prices differ on a postcode basis, this table therefore displays national averages
Based on 2,900.00 kWh of ⚡ and 12,000.00 kWh of 🔥 per year on average
A tariff is green if for each kWh consumed a kWh of renewable energy is injected in the grid.


Economy 10

As you might have guessed, this is the same principle as the Economy 7 plan but with 10 hours of cheaper electricity per day, often in other off peak times such as the afternoon or very early morning.

We don’t all keep the same hours for many reasons – work, social life, young children. So an Economy 10 plan might suit you.

What energy plan is right for me?

Before choosing your energy plan, you need to think about a number of things. These include:

  1. The type of home you live in, its size and energy efficiency rating.
  2. The number of people that you live with.
  3. The types of appliances you have in your home.
  4. Your household energy use, including times of peak use.
  5. Contract length – is a fixed rate contract suitable for you?
  6. Green energy options.

If you use more energy at night or during off peak hours, such as if you work from home, then an Economy 7 or 10 plan might be more suitable. If you are keen to have green energy, then look for suppliers who have an emphasis on renewables in their plans.

Economy 7 and Economy 10 tariffs

If you plan on staying where you are for the foreseeable future, a fixed rate plan might be a better option. If you are renting or moving, then a variable rate might suit more. You also need to think about any added extras that come as part of your energy plan.

Which plan should I choose depending on my consumer habits?

The plan you choose depends on a number of factors. First, the way you use electricity could determine the plan that is right for you. Your budget is another key consideration. Nobody wants to be paying more for their electricity than necessary but if you are on a tighter budget, an Economy 7 or 10 plan might be better suited, especially if you are able to alter your usage accordingly.

Dual fuel tariffs generally work out as better value. But you may also prefer to go with one supplier for gas and another for electricity for other reasons, such as a greater percentage of renewables in their fuel mix. Your own personal habits and preferences will come into the decision as well as purely financial considerations.

Boiler cover

Some suppliers offer boiler cover as part of their energy plans. Built into the cost of your gas or electricity is a boiler repair service. So, if something does go wrong with your heating system, someone will be on hand to fix it free of charge.

Online energy tariffs

In the UK we have the Big Six energy companies who provide the majority of homes with their energy. However, there is an increasing amount of smaller energy firms entering the market and offering different kinds of energy plans. Often the only place to find these smaller providers is online, which is why they are able to keep their costs down.

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FAQ

What is a dual fuel energy plan?

A dual fuel plan is when you get your gas and electricity from the same supplier. This is convenient because you only get one bill and have to deal with one supplier. Plus, you can usually find better deals.

Can I get boiler cover with my energy plan?

Some suppliers will include additional extras as part of their plans, such as boiler insurance. If this is something you are worried about, then a boiler cover plan might be a good idea.

What is Economy 7?

Some suppliers will include additional extras as part of their plans, such as boiler insurance. If this is something you are worried about, then a boiler cover plan might be a good idea.

Which energy plan is right for me?

The right energy plan for you depends on a number of factors, such as the size of your home, how much electricity you use and when you use it. However, if your current bills are high and you haven’t changed your plan or tariff for some time, then it might be worth having a look around to compare energy plans. Choosing a more suitable plan could help you to save hundreds of pounds a day.

Updated on 29 Jan, 2024

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