How to get the best energy deal

Find out how to choose the best gas and electricity tariff and see the latest cheap energy deals on the market
Sarah IngramsPrincipal researcher & writer
Woman looking energy bill, man looking at laptop

Energy prices fall on 1 April but remain higher than before the energy crisis. Many people are on their energy company's variable (also called standard or default) tariff.

There is now a choice of more than 15 fixed tariffs cheaper than the energy price cap. But some won't save you much money compared with the lower price capped rates expected for the rest of the year.

Think about how much you'd expect to pay over the full contract period before making a decision to fix your gas and electricity prices.

The energy price cap, set by energy regulator Ofgem, limits the amount you can be charged if you're on an out of contract variable energy tariff. It changes every three months.

It drops by 12.3% on 1 April 2024, and is predicted to drop further in the summer. 

On this page, we keep track of what's available on the open energy market as new tariffs are launched. See if there are any suitable options for you in our table of the latest deals on the market

You can also use our calculator to work out how much you could expect to pay over the course of a year if you stick to a variable tariff, so you have a clearer idea of what to compare when you're looking at a fixed quote.

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What would your bills be on a variable tariff? Your energy bill calculator

To know whether a fixed deal will save you money, first you need to know how much you'll pay over a year with your current tariff. For many of us, this is a variable price-capped tariff. 

Use our calculator to estimate this, based on your current monthly payments.

Energy Cost Calculator

Use our simple tool to predict your energy payments for the next 12 months if you stay on a variable tariff and pay by monthly direct debit.

What are your current monthly direct debit payments?

£

These estimates are based on the April to June 2024 price cap announced on 23 February 2023. Future predictions based on Cornwall Insight forecasts released on 28 March 2024.

Are there any cheap energy deals now?

There are currently more than 15 tariffs which are cheaper than the price cap rates for April to June. But we've found only two that will save you more than £100 in a year.

Switching to 14 of them would save you less than £40 over a year. Plus that saving would be reduced if the price cap drops again in summer (as it's expected to do next time the cap changes, on 1 July 2024).

You'll need to pay by direct debit to access the cheapest fixed tariffs. Some of them will also let you pay when you receive a bill, but charge higher rates as a result.

We only found two fixed tariffs for prepayment meter customers. Both are sold by EDF Energy. The cheaper would save you around £60 compared with the price cap.

All of the biggest energy suppliers are now selling fixed-term tariffs. 

Current available fixed energy deals

Below we've listed the cheapest five tariffs for households using a medium amount of gas and electricity, paying by direct debit. You can switch to these whether you're a new of existing customer.

Prices for low and high use households are also quoted to give you a better idea of how much it might cost for your home.  For comparison we've also listed the equivalent cost of a price-capped variable tariff.

We last updated this table on 26 March 2024.

Company and tariff nameLow user (annual cost)Medium user (annual cost)High user (annual cost)Tariff lengthExit feesConditions
Price cap April - June 2024 (variable)£1,228£1,690£2,366n/an/an/a
Utility Warehouse UW Fixed Saver 16£1,059£1,540£2,2441 year£75 per fuelYou must buy at three services from Utility Warehouse
EDF Energy EDF Essentials 1Yr Mar25v6£1,156£1,591£2,2021 year£50 per fuelRequires a smart meter
Scottish Power Flexi Price Tariff + Boiler Insurance May 2025 *£1,149£1,614£2,2931 year£75 per fuelYou must buy Scottish Power boiler cover (already included in the tariff cost)
Scottish Power Flexi Price Tariff + Boiler Insurance May 2026* £1,162£1,634£2,3242 years£75 per fuelYou must buy Scottish Power boiler cover (already included in the tariff cost)
Outfox the Market Fix'd Dual Mar24 v1.0£1,205£1,652£2,3051 yearn/a

Prices are based on Ofgem's annual typical consumption values. These are low user (7,500kWh gas and 1,800kWh electricity), medium user (11,500kWh gas and 2,700kWh electricity) and high user (17,000kWh gas and 4,100kWh electricity). Prices are averages across 14 regions, rounded to the nearest whole pount and correct on 26 March 2024.

*The tariff includes variable costs which can go up or down every three months when the price cap changes. 

Ovo Energy is also selling a fixed tariff costing £1,640 per year for a household using a medium amount of energy. It's available to existing customers only so isn't included in the table above.

E.On Next's Pledge tariff promises to be 3% cheaper than the price cap on 1 April. So it will cost around £1,640 per year from then (it's currently pricier).

If you want to pay when you receive a bill, the tariffs from EDF Energy and Utility Warehouse in the table above allow this. It will cost you between £80 and £100 more per year though.

Other interesting energy tariffs 

E.On Next and Scottish Power are both selling tariffs which can change in price every three months when the price cap is reset.

  • E.On Next is offering a tracker tariff, Next Pledge, with rates that adjust to stay 3% below the price cap over the entire course of the contract.  While future fixed tariffs may well come in that undercut it, it's worth considering, especially if you're already with E.On. It has a £50 exit fee (£25 per fuel) if you want to leave early, should something more promising become available.
  • Scottish Power's Flexi tariffs (in the table above) are made up of two parts: a fixed price for energy supplied, and a variable cost based on industry elements (such as network, social and environmental costs). The variable part can change every three months when Ofgem adjusts the price cap.

Should I fix my energy prices?

Man sitting on a sofa with laptop, looking at his watch

The cheapest fixed tariff listed above would save a typical household around £150 per year if the price cap stayed at its current rates.

The price cap is expected to fall by around £130 in summer and increase again slightly in autumn.

So you might cut your bill considerably for the next three months and make smaller savings after that. But you'd likely still save money overall. 

But the cheaper tariff (from Utility Warehouse) also requires you to buy at least two other services from it. So you'll have to weigh-up whether it's worth bundling your broadband, mobile or insurance with energy to get this tariff. 

If you're tempted by a fixed deal, here's what to check:

  • How your payments will compare with the tariff you're currently on. Use our calculator above to get a good idea if you're on a price capped tariff. 
  • What your actual payments would be. For the most accurate estimate, multiply the rates by your energy usage over the last year in kWh. Find this in your online account, app or on your latest annual statement.
  • The length of the contract. If it's very long, there's time for energy prices to change a lot.
  • Do you have to pay an exit fee to leave before the end of the tariff? If so, how much?

Fixed and variable energy tariffs: which is best for me?

Energy deals come in two basic types: fixed or variable. Which one would suit you better will depend on how much certainty you want over the price you pay.

Variable tariffs

Often also called 'standard' tariffs, they change price each time your supplier changes its rates. 

If you have been with your supplier for a while, or didn’t switch after your fixed deal ended, it's very likely that you're on its standard, variable or default tariff.

Default tariffs are subject to a price cap. This is effectively a cap on the price charged for each unit of energy – not a cap on your total bill. The cap is reset by energy regulator Ofgem every three months.

You can leave a variable tariff whenever you like. You're not tied in with a contract or exit fees.

Find out more: what is the energy price cap?

Fixed tariffs

These set the daily standing charge and rates you pay for each unit of gas and electricity you use for a certain period of time (for example a year).

This means that you know the rates you pay for energy won’t rise during the period of your contract. 

If your energy company raises its prices, you won’t be affected – but you won’t benefit if its prices drop, either.

Read more: should you choose a fixed or variable energy tariff?

Price comparison websites

Price comparison websites display tariffs in price order so you can compare potential savings against your current deal.

They don’t have to show every available tariff on the market, so if you don’t venture beyond one comparison site's initial recommendations, you might miss out on the cheapest tariffs.

When you use a price comparison website, remember:

  • some tariffs are exclusive to one price comparison website
  • some tariffs are only available directly from the supplier
  • some price comparison websites show a limited selection of tariffs upfront, such as only those they can switch you to directly, or just deals from the biggest companies. 

Check what the site says about which deals it displays automatically. You can often use the site's filters to see a wider range of deals than is initially displayed.  

Bear in mind that you will need to contact the supplier directly if you pick a deal the website cannot switch you to.

Our independent energy price comparison service automatically shows you tariffs that it can’t switch you to directly – so you can use it to check if you can save compared with your current tariff, even if it can't complete the switch for you.

Energy autoswitching services

Woman sitting in front of a fire using a tablet to switch energy supplier

Automatic switching services do more of the legwork for you than price comparison websites. 

They continuously compare and, with your permission, switch you to deals they calculate to be the best (based on information you provide) to keep you on a good rate.

If you want a better energy deal with minimal effort once new tariffs are on offer, an autoswitching service could be worth a try. But be aware that you're unlikely to save much by switching at the moment. 

Before using an autoswitching service, check:

  • Its terms and conditions, so you know how it picks which tariffs to switch you to. 
  • The energy suppliers it works with. Some autoswitching services don't compare every deal available. If owned by a price comparison website, for example, they may only display deals from companies they have financial agreements with.
  • Its policies on switching you to companies with a poor reputation for customer service. Some autoswitching services won’t switch customers to suppliers they don’t feel are up to scratch. This can help you avoid some poorly performing companies, but means you might save less than a price comparison website. 
  • Whether it’s a free or paid-for service. Services that charge subscription fees typically cover the whole market, so may include cheaper deals than those tied to specific suppliers.  But you'll need to balance this against how much the fees could eat into your savings. 

Switching directly with an energy company

Energy companies are not allowed to sell cheaper deals to new customers than existing ones. 

As more energy companies offer fixed tariffs, check that you are on the cheapest option with your current supplier as well as comparing offerings from other companies.

Some suppliers are offering exclusive deals to their existing customers. If you're offered one of these, it's worth comparing it to your current rates and those offered by other suppliers.

You can usually get a quote from a new energy provider by entering your postcode and some information about your energy use through its website. If you're happy with the quote, you can then follow through with the switch online, or over the phone.

Find out how to switch energy supplier.

Refer-a-friend and other switching incentives

Woman phoning an energy company

Suppliers have prevously offered financial rewards for switching to them, including via refer-a-friend schemes that reward both the existing and new customer. 

If you’re invited to switch via one of these, check the following:

  • The price of the tariff you’ll be signing up to – is it the supplier’s cheapest deal?
  • How the price compares with other deals on the market once the incentive payment is factored in.
  • Whether there are other conditions attached to the switching incentive – for example being a customer for a certain period, or getting a smart meter – and whether you're happy with these.
  • If the supplier charges exit fees if you want to leave.
  • How good the supplier’s customer service is. Check out our guide to the best and worst energy companies for 2024.

Economy 7, Economy 10 and smart time-of-use tariffs

Time-of-use tariffs charge different rates for electricity used at different times of day. For example, a more expensive rate for electricity used at times of peak demand in the daytime, and a cheaper overnight rate.

Economy 7 and Economy 10 are two common time-of-use tariffs.

If you're on one of these, you may have a special electricity meter that provides two different readings (also known as a two-rate meter). 

Find out whether you should stay on Economy 7.

If you have a smart meter, special meters aren't necessary to access time-of-use tariffs. That's because smart meters can be set up to charge different rates at different times. This means that all homes with smart meters will be able to access time-of-use tariffs in future. 

At the moment, these tariffs are mainly for electric vehicle owners. Companies use smart meter readings taken every half hour to provide cheaper overnight charging when it's cheaper for suppliers to buy electricity.

You may not need to have a smart meter already installed in order to sign up to one of these deals, but it will be a condition of the tariff that you get one fitted.

Find out more about smart meters and how they work.

Renewable energy tariffs

Wind turbines among fields and forest

There is no set definition of what a ‘renewable’ tariff is or has to include. Companies take different approaches including:

  • Funding or generating renewable electricity or 'green' biogas
  • Buying the equivalent of what their customers use in renewable electricity
  • Matching their customers' use with renewable power that they haven't bought
  • Offering different proportions of renewable electricity and gas
  • Offering other social or environmental perks.

See the differences between green energy suppliers.

If you’re keen to support renewable electricity, check the details of your potential supplier’s arrangement and how they define their green tariff.

Find out more in our guides to renewable energy and green gas.

Should I bundle gas and electricity with broadband or boiler cover?

The following firms offer boiler cover, broadband or other services as well as energy:

If you’re tempted to buy more than gas and electricity from your energy company, first check how much it would cost to buy the equivalent products from separate firms.

Find out how to choose the best boiler cover.

Look out for energy exit fees

If you're considering a fixed tariff, check whether you would have to pay to leave before the end of the contract (for example, if you found a cheaper deal).

We've seen exit fees of £75 per fuel on a one year tariff. But don't let this put you off switching:

  • Not all fixed deals have exit fees. If it doesn't, you'll be protected against rising prices, but if they go down you can switch at any time at no cost.
  • Your supplier can't charge an exit fee if you switch in the last 49 days of your fixed tariff.
  • You shouldn't have to pay exit fees if you’re moving home, provided you keep your tariff but just change the address. 
  • If you switch tariff but stay with the same provider, some may waive the exit fee – it's worth asking.

Pay by direct debit to save money

Paying by monthly direct debit is usually the cheapest way to pay for energy. 

Your supplier will estimate how much gas and electricity you'll use in a year and charge you for a twelfth of this each month. 

It usually costs more to pay when you receive your bill - your tariff will be more expensive than a direct debit one. You'll also have to pay more in winter (when you're using central heating) than in summer. 

Prepayment meter customers on price-capped tariffs pay slightly less than direct debit customers from April 2024. But there's less choice of cheaper fixed tariffs for prepayment customers.

Find out whether a prepayment energy meter is right for you.

For tips on using less energy to bring your bills down, head to our guides to 10 ways to save on energy bills and how to make your home more energy efficient

How to stop your energy company overcharging

Whether or not you've just switched, try these tips to keep your bills accurate:

  • Send your supplier meter readings at least monthly (if your smart meter isn't already doing this). This makes sure you're only charged for the energy you're actually using. Without them, your energy company will estimate your usage.
  • Check your account from time to time to make sure your meter readings are getting through. We've heard from people whose smart meters have stopped sending readings. 
  • If your energy company raises its prices, send meter readings on the day the rise takes effect. This way, you get the lower price for the maximum period.
  • Question direct debit changes if you don't agree. Contact your energy company and ask it to explain how and why it has calculated the change.
  • Ask for excess credit back. If you have more than three months' payments in your energy account, consider asking for a refund or to lower your monthly payments.
  • Complain if your direct debit payments increase without notice. Energy firms should give you 10 days' warning before taking the new amount. If yours doesn't, complain and ask for compensation. You can also make a claim under the Direct Debit Guarantee.
  • Complain if you have been billed incorrectly. Use our letter template to complain to your energy supplier about being overcharged.