Dual Fuel Energy Comparison 2025 | Is Dual Fuel Cheaper?

What Is Dual Fuel Energy Comparison?

A dual fuel energy comparison looks at the cost of taking both gas and electricity from the same energy supplier under a single energy account, compared with buying them separately. Instead of receiving two separate bills, households manage everything under one account and one point of contact.

The main reasons people choose a dual fuel deal include:

• Convenience – fewer bills, easier administration, and a single supplier for both fuels.
• Potential savings – some suppliers apply a discount when both fuels are supplied together.
• Simplified switching – moving both fuels at once under the Energy Switch Guarantee.

When you compare dual fuel prices, you are weighing up:

• Unit of energy rates for gas and electricity.
• Daily standing charges.
• Fixed vs variable energy tariffs.
• Regional price differences.
• Discounts or promotions for taking both fuels together.

The purpose of a dual fuel energy comparison is to find out whether a combined tariff is the best deal compared with separate suppliers. You can use our energy price postcode checker to quickly compare energy prices and see the dual fuel tariffs available.

What the Ofgem Price Cap Means for Dual Fuel in 2025

The energy price cap gets checked by Ofgem every three months. It shows the top price a home can be asked to pay when it is on a standard variable tariff. A supplier can not charge more than that set price cap.

(Source: Ofgem)

The cap is not the full amount you need to pay for your energy bill. It shows what you would pay if you use an average amount of energy. What you have to pay will be different based on how much energy you use. If you use more than most people, your gas bill and electricity bill will go up.

The cap is lower than it was in the previous year. This can help households. It gives some relief from high energy costs.

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Dual Fuel vs Separate Fuel: Which Works Out Cheaper?

A dual fuel energy deal means you get both gas and electricity from the same company. If you do not pick a dual fuel energy deal, you will use two companies instead. One sends you gas, and the other gives you electricity. This is how you use dual fuel or keep each fuel separate.

Dual fuel advantages:

• You only need to set up one monthly direct debit with one supplier for your energy account.
• You might get a discount if you combine the supply.
• It will be easier to see how much you use when you do regular meter readings.
• Customer service is simpler because you have one point of contact if you need help with your bill or with supply problems.

Separate supplier advantages:

• You can get a new tariff that is cheaper for one fuel only.
• You might be able to switch just one fuel, and not do anything with the other one.
• This helps if your home uses much electricity, like when you have an EV or you want a renewable tariff.

In most cases, dual fuel can give you better value if your home uses an average or higher amount of gas and electricity. This is because having both fuels together in one account can help you get some discounts. It also makes things simple, as you have just one point of contact.

But, if you use much less energy than most people, the standing charges can be a big part of your bill. In this situation, using separate suppliers could sometimes be cheaper.

Fixed vs Variable Dual Fuel Tariffs Explained

Some fixed dual fuel tariffs in the middle of 2025 are set to be about £1,550 each year. This is for the usual energy use. That makes it about £170 less than the price cap set by Ofgem for July.

Choosing between fixed and variable depends on:

• The way you feel about risk with wholesale energy prices is important.
• If you like to have the same price for a long time, that can feel safe. Some people might want to try for short-term savings instead.
• When variable tariffs get reviewed, there is a chance that they may go down in the future.

Hidden Costs Behind Dual Fuel Bills

A dual fuel energy comparison is not only about the price of each unit of energy. There are more costs in dual fuel besides what you spend on the energy. A good energy comparison for dual fuel looks at the full price, not just what each unit of energy costs. This helps you know what you will really pay in the end.

• Standing charges – you have to pay a small fee every day. It happens even if you do not use much energy.
• Exit fees – if you leave a fixed contract before it ends, you may get charged extra.
• Meter type – the kind you own, like smart, prepayment, or standard, can decide if you get some energy deals.
• Payment method – paying by monthly direct debit is the cheapest way by Ofgem’s rules.
• Customer service – if you get bad customer service from a supplier, it can be worse than saving a little money.

How Regional Variations Affect Dual Fuel Prices

The Ofgem cap is the same all over the country. The amount you pay will depend on where you live.

• Gas distribution charges are not the same in the city and in the rural areas.
• Electricity standing charges change in each of the 14 local networks.
• A normal energy comparison will not always show the prices near you. Because of that, it is good to use a postcode-based tool for a better energy comparison.

These changes help show why two houses that use the same amount of electricity can still have different bills. This happens even if they are both on the same tariff.

Usage Scenarios: Savings for Low, Average, and High Use Homes

Average household

• The normal bill from Ofgem will be about £1,720 every year from July to September 2025.
• A fixed dual fuel tariff costs about £1,550 each year.
• So, you could save close to £170 a year if you get a dual fuel tariff.

Low-use household

• The standing charges make up a large part of the recent bill.
• A dual fuel discount may not be enough to cover these charges.
• Sometimes, using two different current suppliers can be cheaper.

High-use household

• When you use more, you will get bigger savings because the unit rates are cheaper.
• Dual fuel is often the right deal for houses with EV charging or electric heating.

Impact of Payment Method and Meter Type on Dual Fuel Costs

• Monthly Direct Debit – this way is often the cheapest to pay your bills. A lot of people like using direct debit each month because it lets them save money.
• Standard credit – you pay for your bills after you get them. You will find that this way mostly costs more than paying by monthly direct debit.
• Prepayment – this is a payment method that comes with its own price cap. It is usually more expensive than the other options.
• Smart meters – these help make sure your bills are always correct. They can also be used for plans where the price changes at different times each day.

Households with prepayment or old meters may pay more than others. You could save money if you switch to a new supplier. You might also cut costs by choosing a new tariff.

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Dual Fuel Discounts: What They Are and How They Work

Suppliers may give you a discount if you buy both fuels together. This can be:

• You have to pay less each day for standing charges.
• The unit rates you pay are lower.
• When you go with a new provider, you can get bundled promotions.

Discount levels change depending on which supplier you choose and what tariff you have. Because of this, you need to look closely at energy suppliers to see if the dual fuel discount is truly the best option for you and your family.

When Separate Suppliers Could Be Cheaper than Dual Fuel

Even though it is not common to have different suppliers, sometimes it can help save money.

• There is one supplier that gives a special electricity plan. It is for people who use renewable energy or charge an electric car.
• A home that uses only a small amount of gas can get a cheaper plan for gas only.
• Some smaller energy companies offer special plans for people. These plans can be better than the big dual fuel deals.

For a lot of homes, dual fuel will be the best deal in 2025.

How to Compare Dual Fuel Prices Accurately

1. Get your recent bill. You will need this so you can use your real kWh use, not just guesses.
2. Look at both the unit rates and the standing charges on your bill. Do not only check the yearly estimate for your energy use.
3. Compare fixed and variable tariffs to the energy price cap.
4. Think about any ways your energy use could change. For example, if you want to add EV chargers or heat pumps, this will make a difference.
5. Go to Free Price Compare and use the energy price postcode checker. This tool will help you quickly compare energy prices for dual fuel. You can see the deals from your current suppliers and also from new ones.

FAQs About Dual Fuel Energy Comparison