Bulb Tariffs: Plans, Rates & Deals in 2022

When choosing the best energy rates for your home, it’s important to keep changing suppliers. Indeed, Ofgem actively encourages energy consumers to switch suppliers regularly. It keeps the market competitive and keeps market prices consistently low. However, it’s also important to keep changing tariffs. Letting your tariff roll over after it expires can put you on a needlessly expensive standard tariff with a less than favourable rate. Bulb is one of the most popular and trusted green energy suppliers in the country, bringing 100% renewable energy and carbon-neutral gas to 1.6 million customers across the UK. But do Bulb tariffs in 2022 give you the value for money that you expect?

Bulb Tariffs and Prices

Bulb prides itself on offering energy consumers “fair prices that stay fair”. Indeed, a look at their tariffs page reveals that they are consistently cheaper than any of the “Big 6” suppliers, and even compares favourably to other green tariffs offered by suppliers like Outfox The Market and Octopus Energy.

Unlike most suppliers, Bulb do not offer a fixed rate tariff. Instead, it offers different versions of its variable “Vari-Fair” tariff for customers with standard credit meters, economy 7 credit meters, and prepayment meters to domestic customers. It also offers business tariffs for SMEs. Let’s take a closer look…

Bulb standard tariff

Bulb’s standard tariff is therefore called the “Vari-Fair”. It differs from several common energy industry trends for the following reasons:

• Vari-Fair is a variable tariff committed to ensuring that prices remain both variable and fair to ensure that the rates accurately reflect the cost of energy.
• The tariff doesn’t have any exist fees.
• Finally, it offers 100% renewable energy.

As their website states:
“Our variable plans reflect the true cost of energy. And we don’t do fixed contracts or exit fees, so you’ll never pay more just for sticking around”. This means that you can come and go as you please without having to worry about exit fees.

Bulb energy prices in August 2022

Their standard Vari-Fair tariff rates are as follows:

As we can see the average dual fuel Vari-Fair budget is 1058.161388 a figure significantly below Ofgem’s Dual Fuel Energy Price Cap which has been set at 1,971.00 per year for both fuels (valid from 1 April 2022 to 30 September 2022).

Bulb prepayment tariffs

Bulb also offers tariffs for customers with prepayment meters. As usual this tariff is slightly more expensive but it enables more control over your energy budget. Depending on whether you have a smart prepayment meter (than you be toped up online) or a traditional meter (that needs to be toped up in a store) you will be on a “Vari-Fair Prepayment Tariff” or a “Vari-Fair Smart Prepayment tarif”. Rates could evolve to differ in the near future.

Those with a standard prepayment tariff that does not have dual rates will pay:

Again the sum for these two tariffs (1154.890182 for Smart Pay As you Go and 1154.890182 is below the Ofgem’s Dual Fuel Energy Price Cap which is for Prepayment tariffs 2,017.00Z per year for both fuels (valid from 1 April 2022 to 30 September 2022).

Bulb’s Economy 7 tariff

For customers with Economy 7 meters, the Vari-fair tariff has two different rates for day and night. While some tariffs have very little difference between night and day rates, Bulb’s is fairly pronounced. Economy 7 hours usually fall between 10pm and 8am, depending on where in the country you are.

Economy 7 electricity rates for credit and prepayment meters are as follows:

Bulb business tariffs

If you run a business, it’s likely that your customers (and your staff) expect you to take active steps to make your business as environmentally friendly and carbon-neutral as possible. Switching to a renewable supplier is a good place to start. Bulb offers business tariffs for SMEs that, while not necessarily the cheapest on the market, are nonetheless competitively priced. What’s more, Bulb’s business energy tariffs do not have the lengthy tariffs and hefty exit fees that are usually associated with business energy.

Bulb’s business standing charges are 27.40 pence per day for both electricity and gas. Unit rates will depend on the size of your business and peak load times. Their business energy page places their average annual bill at £2,161.

Bulb tariffs compared: Which is the cheapest tariff?

When comparing Bulb’s domestic energy tariffs, its standard economy 7 Vari-Fair rate works out the cheapest for customers with electricity-only. While day rates are slightly higher than standard credit meter rates, the lower standing charges help to make this the most economical tariff.

However, all of Bulb’s tariffs (including prepay tariffs) are significantly below the Energy Price Cap.

Bulb price changes in 2021

In September 2020, Bulb went against the grain, increasing the price of its Vari-Fair tariff by an average of £51 for dual fuel customers, at a time when most were reducing their prices in line with the new price cap. While this may be considered a red flag, it really speaks more to the excessive pricing of other suppliers than it does to Bulb. Even with this price rise considered, Bulb’s energy prices are still significantly below most of its competitors.

Get a Bulb Energy quote
Think that Bulb might be the supplier for you? We can get you a quote that shows you just how much you could save on your energy, whatever kind of meter you use. As well as ensuring that you get the best green energy tariff for your needs, we can also manage your switch from end-to-end.

So you can enjoy cheaper, more renewable energy completely hassle-free.

Want to know more?

Call us today on 0330 818 6223. We’re available from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm.

Read More:

• Bulb Energy reviews
• Bulb contact

FAQ

How much does Bulb charge per kWh?

The rates that Bulb charges per kWh depend on a number of factors, predominantly which tariff plan that you've signed on for. However, other factors such as your location within the UK or even the time of day in which you are using energy can have an impact as well.

This information is available within this article and is refreshed regularly to account for the tariffs being udpated.

What is the Bulb standing charge?

The standing charge the bulb charges for their tariff plans changes depending on the tariff that you've signed on for.  This information is available within this article.

Does Bulb have an exit fee?

No, Bulb does not charge any exit fees for any of their tariff plans.

Has Bulb raised its prices in 2021?

While 2021 has been a turbulent year in the energy market, prices are expected to increase amongst all suppliers in October 2021 as a result of the energy price cap being increased dramatically.