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Compare Electricity Prices and Avoid the 12% price hike

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Due to market volatility suppliers are removing offers and tariffs without warning.

To guarantee the price you see you will need to switch immediately. Find out more

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How to compare and switch electricity suppliers

Your address

Your address

Supplier details

Supplier details

Choose tariff

Choose tariff

Start saving

Start saving

Type of electricity tariffs

When comparing electricity prices, you can look at various types of electricity tariffs available to choose from.

  • Variable rate tariff – Also known as standard rate electricity tariff, variable rate tariffs are usually offered as a default option by energy suppliers when your current contract comes to an end, most of the energy supplier will switch you to a standard variable rate tariff. Your electricity unit rate and standing charges are not fixed and can go up or down depending on the wholesale electricity market.
  • Fixed rate tariff – As the name suggests, electricity unit rate and the standing charges are fixed during the agreed period of time or a contract, however, your electricity bills will vary depending on your actual usage for the period. If the wholesale electricity prices go up, you are not affected as you are in a fixed term contract. Most of the UK energy suppliers offer a 1 to 5 year fixed term electricity contract options.
  • Feed in tariff –Feed in tariffs usually relate to solar panels. If you have installed solar panels and you are generating electricity, you might be able to benefit from FIT (feed in tariff). Energy suppliers will pay you for generating electricity from your solar panel. It is also possible to find the FIT from other sources of renewable energy.
  • Green tariff –Green energy tariffs can be variable or fixed rate tariffs. Green energy electricity tariff means your electricity comes from renewable sources such as wind power, solar power and hydro power. Usually green tariffs offer 100% green electricity but only 10% green gas.
  • Prepaid tariff –prepaid electricity tariffs are for prepaid meters and as the name suggests, it lets you pay for your electricity in advance. The price per unit rate is usually much higher compared to other tariffs. You can use prepaid meters by topping up at authorised merchants such as the post office by card or a key, some suppliers allow you to top online or by using their mobile app.
  • Economy 7 tariffs – Economy 7 meter is a 2 rate meter which offers a cheaper unit rate during the night time and higher rate at day time. An Economy 7 meter will display 2 sets of readings allowing you to read meter for the day time and the night time. If you are a higher user of electricity then you can also ask your supplier to install economy 10 meter which offers 3 extra discounted hours compared to economy 7 meter.

Who are the big six electricity suppliers?

  • British gas 1. British gas
  • EDF energy 2. EDF energy
  • E.on3. E.on
  • Npower4. Npower
  • Scottish power5. Scottish power
  • SSE6. SSE

What should I do to reduce my electricity bills?

There small steps can help you reduce your electricity bills:

  • Use energy saving light bulbs such as LED lamps
  • Have better insulation at your property
  • Use of efficient and energy saving appliances
  • Installing smart meter can help you see where and when you are using most energy
  • Turn of any appliances that are on standby for a long period of time

Electricity price comparison and switch

It is important to compare electricity prices to find tailored electricity quotes to suit your needs. Electricity prices can vary depending on your area and household needs. We (Free Price Compare) can help you run an electricity rate comparison in few minutes to find a cheaper electricity supplier.

Step 1 – Where you live

You need to enter your postcode and choose the address of the property for which you are looking to run the electricity comparison on.

Step 2 – Your supplier details

You need to tell us about your current supplier, your current tariff, the contract end date and the payment method you use in order to compare and find a better electricity tariff.

Step 3 – How much electricity you are using

It is important to know how much electricity you are consuming; you can find your electricity usage on your bill. If you don’t have a bill and you are not sure how much your usage is, you can use our estimator to estate the usage for you. Entering in your accurate usage means that you will get accurate electricity quotes.

Once you are happy with a plan or supplier, we will take care of any paperwork required. We will inform your new electricity supplier and current supplier about the switch to arrange switchover date.

The electricity switch can be completed within 17 days, however in some cases it can take longer. You have 14 days cooling off period if you decided to change your mind.

Type of electricity meters

There are 3 different types of electricity meters:

  • 1. Credit meter –Traditional electricity meter and most of the UK houses have credit electricity meters.
  • 2. Smart meter - New generation meters which can record and report readings to electricity suppliers
  • 3. Prepayment meter –Allows you to pay for your electricity before using it. Prepaid tariffs are usually more expensive than others.

Why should you switch electricity suppliers?

If you don’t switch your electricity supply when your fixed term plan is coming to an end, your supplier will automatically switch your contract to a standard rate electricity tariff which can be really expensive. If you haven’t switched your electricity contract or electricity supplier during last 2 to 3 years or have never switched your electricity contract then you are more than likely to be on the energy supplier’s standard electricity tariff. More than half of the UK households are on standard variable tariffs which is unfortunate as these tariffs are one of the most expensive electricity plans so by switching you can get cheaper plan and save money too.

Most people switch from one electricity supplier to another to save money, however another reason to switch could be customer service or you want to have green energy plan which is not supported by your current energy supplier.

Domestic electricity market share by individual energy suppliers 

Q1 2019 Q2 2019 Q3 2019 Q4 2019 Q1 2018 Q2 2018 Q3 2018 Q4 2018 Q1 2017 Q2 2017 Q3 2017 Q4 2017
British Gas 19% 19% 19% 19% 20% 20% 19% 19% 22% 22% 21% 20%
EDF 11% 11% 11% 11% 11% 11% 11% 11% 12% 12% 12% 11%
E.ON 12% 12% 12% 12% 13% 13% 13% 12% 14% 13% 13% 13%
nPower 8% 8% 7% 7% 9% 9% 9% 8% 9% 10% 10% 10%
Scottish Power 10% 9% 9% 9% 10% 10% 10% 10% 11% 11% 10% 10%
SSE 13% 13% 12% 12% 14% 14% 13% 13% 15% 14% 14% 14%
Shell Energy 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3%
OVO Energy  5% 4% 4% 4% 3% 3% 4% 4% 2% 2% 3% 3%
Utilita 3% 3% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2%
Utility Warehouse 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2%
Avro Energy 1% 1% 1% 1% 0% 0% 1% 1% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Bulb 4% 5% 5% 5% 1% 2% 3% 3% 0% 0% 0% 1%
Octopus Energy 3% 4% 4% 4% 2% 2% 3% 3% 2% 2% 2% 1%
Green Network Energy 1% 1% 1% 1% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Small Suppliers 7% 7% 7% 7% 9% 9% 8% 8% 6% 7% 9% 10%

source - Ofgem

Big 6 electricity supliers and customer satisfaction

British Gas EDF E.ON npower ScottishPower SSE Average
Satisfied with supplier service 71% 68% 71% 65% 68% 74% 70%
Satisfied with understandable bills 73% 71% 74% 70% 70% 73% 72%
Satisfied with ease of contacting supplier 75% 68% 70% 65% 65% 75% 70%
Would recommend supplier 35% 29% 33% 28% 28% 35% 31%
Agree supplier values its customers 44% 29% 36% 29% 29% 38% 34%

source - Ofgem

Big 6 electricity supliers and customer satisfaction

compare electricity prices chart

source - Ofgem

Electricity prices Frequently asked questions

  • Your current electricity tariff details
  • How much you are paying for your electricity
  • Your electricity usage (Spend per month or year / kWh per month or year)
  • Current electricity supplier name
  • Your preferred payment method
  • The address where you want compare electricity supply

As a tenant you can switch your electricity supplier if you are responsible for paying your electricity bill and you are the named account holder. If your tenancy agreement has all bills inclusive then your landlord is responsible to compare electricity prices and switch to their preferred electricity suppliers.

Yes, you can compare electricity prepayment meters and switch supplier to your preferred choice. However, not all energy suppliers offer prepayment meters meaning the energy supplier options will be limited.

Yes, we can help you compare business electricity prices to find better contract for you and your business. Click here to compare business electricity prices

If you have feed-in tariff (FIT), you can still switch electricity supplier as the Ofgem industry regulator sets prices for FIT’s (feed-in-tariffs). You can simply switch to another supplier without any hassle.

The simple answer is no. When switching your electricity supplier, your meter and wires remain the same, it is only your prices and bills that will come from another supplier. Your electricity supply still remains the same as it was.

If your electricity supplier is offering to install smart meters then you can ask them to install one for you. If not, you can ask them to inform you when they do.

Not all suppliers support green electricity tariffs; however, you can switch to those who offer green energy tariffs. Green electricity generated from renewable sources such as wind, plants, sunlight and geothermal heat.

Economy 10 electricity meters – It’s a multi rate electricity meter which offers cheaper electricity rates at certain times. It’s similar to economy 7 meter but offers 3 extra hours off peak per day.

Economy 7 electricity meters – Economy 7 electricity meter is another electric meter type which offers you cheaper rates at night and higher electricity unit rates during the day time. Economy 7 meters would be useful for those household, who use most electricity during night time.

Customers switching from 01/01/2020 to 31/12/2020 saved an average of £318 a year on a dual fuel tariff.

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