Compare Electricity Prices

Who offers the best electricity prices?

As of the time of writing in December 2020, Scottish Power offers the best electricity prices for UK households. Their Super Saver December 2021 tariff has a unit rate of 14.93p and a daily standing charge of 18.62p. Beating many others to the punch, including the big six! However, if you’re looking for a ‘green’ or renewable energy tariff, the GNE Essential Green from Green Network Energy (GNE) is a good runner-up.

What is green electricity and can I compare it?

Green electricity means electricity that comes from a renewable source. Renewable sources include those which use the Earth (such as wind, water and sun) to generate electricity, rather than using finite resources such as fossil fuels or nuclear sources. Green energy tariffs are usually comparable with nonrenewable energy tariffs, and most tariffs in 2020 include some form of renewable energy.But, if you’re looking for an energy provider who supplies 100% renewable electricity, there are plenty of green options available, such as from newcomers Octopus Energy, Green Network Energy (GNE) and OVO. Unfortunately, the big six are quite far behind the smaller brands in coming up with reasonable volumes of renewable energy sources. So far, there are few who also offer gas from 100% renewable sources, so look out for this if this is important to you.

What is the energy fuel mix?

The fuel mix covers how much of an energy supplier’s energy comes from which sources. For example, an energy company may supply electricity from 80% fossil fuels, and 20% renewable energy sources. Others may do so with 100% renewable energy, or 100% from nuclear power stations. If fuel mix is important to you, all UK suppliers must publish details of the fuel they used to generate their energy over the last twelve months. If you’re inclined to go for a more sustainable choice of energy supplier, be sure to compare energy mixes as well as pricing.

What are the cheapest electricity offers in the UK?

Now, that we've explained the basics - what are actually the best offers?

What are the cheapest electricity live tariffs in the UK?

Below you'll find the three cheapest offers that are currently available in the UK.

Cheapest Electricity Live Tariffs

Supplier	Tariff Type	Name	Availability	Standing Charge	Unit Rate	Annual cost	Exit Cost	Green Tariff**
	Prepayment	Prepayment Variable	✅	38.28*	34.82*	£ 1,149.47*	£ 0.00	✔️
	Double Gold	Standard Variable	✅	31.57*	35.80*	£ 1,153.38*	£ 0.00	✔️
	Prepayment Variable	Prepayment Variable	✅	53.90*	34.81*	£ 1,206.36*	£ 0.00	✖️
	-	-	-	-*	-*	£ -*	£ -	-

*Prices differ on a postcode basis, this table therefore displays national averages
*Based on Ofgem’s 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.

What are the cheapest electricity tariffs in the UK?

In the following list you'll find the three overall cheapest electricity tariffs.

Cheapest Electricity Tariffs

Supplier	Name	Tariff Type	Availability	Unit Rate	Standing Charges	Annual Cost	Exit Fee	Green Tariff**
	/	Fixed - 24 months	❌	480.56*	480.56*	£ 480.56*	£ 480.56	✖️
	/	Fixed - 12 months	❌	£ 510.72*	510.72*	510.72*	£ 510.72	✖️
	/	Green - Fixed 12	❌	535.26*	535.26*	£ 535.26*	£ 535.26	✔️

*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 Green tariff means the supplier injects in the grid the same amount of renewable energy that is consumed.

What are the cheapest prepayment electricity tariffs in the UK?

You don't like surprises? Then the following prepayment tariffs are right for you.

Cheapest Prepayment Electricity Tariff

Supplier	Availability	Unit Rate Cost	Standing Charges	Average Annual Cost	Exit Fee	Green Tariff**
	❌	£ 18.47*	31.32*	£ 668.33*	£ 0.00	✖️
	❌	£ 22.75*	11.14*	£ 700.43*	£ 0.00	✖️
	❌	£ 20.83*	29.23*	£ 710.83*	£ 0.00	✖️

*Prices vary from one city to another, so we display national averages
*Based on the official 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.

What are the cheapest green electricity tariffs in the UK?

Green is always a good option. But it doesn't need to be pricey. For that reason we show you the three cheapest green electricity offers.

Cheapest Green Electricity Tariffs

Supplier	Name	Availability	Unit Rate Cost	Standing Charge	Average Annual Cost	Green Tariff**
	Green - Fixed 12	❌	16.99*	11.65*	£ 535.26*	✔️
	Standard Variable	❌	20.07*	27.39*	£ 867.62*	✔️
	Green - Fixed 24	❌	20.07*	27.39*	£ 867.62*	✔️

*Prices vary from one city to another, so we display 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.

Why should I switch electricity suppliers?

While you’re under no obligation to, it’s silly to pay more than you need to for any of your utilities. Paying less for your internet or TV subscription may mean a loss in quality, but when it comes to gas and electricity, it all comes from the same grid - regardless of your supplier. So, if you’re paying £100 a month when you could be paying £80 for what’s essentially the same service, why wouldn’t you switch? Savings of £20 a month add up quickly - to £240 across the course of a year. The process to switch is very simple, so we always recommend even reviewing the market and available tariffs every few months if you’ve been with your current supplier for a while.

How much can I save on electricity by switching energy suppliers?

According to the Money Advice Service, switching energy providers can save you up to £300 a year. As the task of switching can take as little as ten minutes, it’s probably the biggest payday of anyone’s year! And, if you implement some energy-efficient measures in the home at the same time, you could save even more on your bills. Some of the easiest ways to cut back on your energy consumption quickly include:

• Unplugging any electricals that aren’t in use, particularly pesky chargers!
• Using natural light in the home wherever possible
• Turning lights off when you leave a room
• Turning down the thermostat by one or two degrees.

Alt: You can make big savings on your bills by comparing electricity prices

What do I have to do when I switch electricity suppliers?

Once you’ve switched energy suppliers, there is very little to do! You don’t have to facilitate any home visits or engineers popping round. The only thing is to take a meter reading on your switchover date and give this to your new supplier. Your new supplier will generally pass this on to your previous supplier, so they can generate your final bill.

What is a dual fuel tariff and do I need one?

A dual fuel tariff is for households that have both gas and electricity in their home. If you don’t have both, you don’t need a dual fuel tariff! While you can have separate agreements for each fuel, it’s generally easier to keep both utilities with the same provider. However, not all energy providers offer dual fuel tariffs, and some offer electricity or gas only. Look out for this! The main benefits of a dual fuel tariff, if applicable to your circumstances, are:

• One payment, and one monthly bill
• Usually will have a discount or slightly cheaper tariff for both fuels
• There’s only one supplier to deal with, if there are any issues.

What is an Economy 7 meter?

Economy 7 meters are also known as multi-rate tariffs. Economy 7 households will have a day rate and a night rate for their energy, with the night rate being cheaper. You’ll need a particular kind of meter for this that measures both rates separately. As the name suggests, Economy 7 gives you 7 hours of lower-rate energy in a 24-hour period, according to GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). It’s mainly suitable for those who use most of their energy at night time, because day rates for Economy 7 tariffs are often higher than standard unit rates on non-economy 7 tariffs. The night time or ‘off-peak’ rates usually run for 7 hours from 11 pm, and from 12 am in the British Summer Time. So, if you’re particularly active with your appliances, laundry and cooking during these hours, you may benefit from paying less overall for your electricity. They also work well for those with storage heaters, as you can ‘store’ your energy at night, and have it release gradually throughout the day, using the cheaper of the two rates to heat your home.

What is an Economy 10 meter?

Similarly to Economy 7, Economy 10 works in exactly the same way. You get two rates, your day rate (peak) and night rate (off-peak), and one of the two major differences is that Economy 10 gives you 10 hours of off-peak electricity use, rather than 7. The other significant difference is that, instead of a ‘block’ of 7 hours from Economy 7, Economy 10 customers get several blocks of time throughout the day. It varies based on where you are in the UK, and does change based on BST and GMT. One big drawback of this is having to keep track of when your on and off-peak times are. Another is that the times can’t be changed, and may simply not work for your lifestyle. Finally, it can be easier to accidentally spend more in your peak times, due to simply misremembering your blocks! Again, you can’t just switch to Economy 10. You’ll need to have a specific meter installed that knows the time and records both on and off-peak rates.Would you like to know more about electricity prices? Great! Check out our latest article on the cheapest electricity prices.

FAQ

I’m a tenant. Can I switch electricity supplier?

There is a misconception that tenants can’t change energy providers. However, under consumer protection law, if you’re renting and are directly responsible for paying the bills, you are allowed to choose your own energy supplier.

One caveat to this is to check your contract if you’re unsure, as some landlords or letting agents have a ‘default supplier cause’, which means you’ll need to stick with the default energy supplier as part of your rental agreement.

What about switching with a prepayment meter?

If you’re on a prepayment meter, you’ll need to find a tariff that is able to take payments and supply energy using that method. Not all tariffs do this, as most suppliers prefer to take monthly direct debit payments, and some energy suppliers don’t offer tariffs for prepayment meters at all.

If you’re in debt on a prepayment meter, you can still switch suppliers if you owe less than £500 per fuel - so £1000 for dual fuel customers. However, you’ll have to ‘transfer’ this debt to your new supply and continue to pay by prepayment meter until the debt is cleared and you’re up-to-date with your bills.

I’m on a fixed-rate contract. Can I still switch?

You can switch, but exit fees might be payable when you’re in a fixed-term energy contract. This is because energy suppliers buy the energy in advance to cover you for the length of your contract - meaning that they ‘lose out’ if you leave early. You’re absolutely entitled to switch providers if you’re currently in a contract, you just have to take into account any exit fees applicable to your electricity, gas or both to end the contract early and switch providers.