Switching from a variable to a fixed rate can deliver bigger savings today
Energy users on standard variable rate (SVRs) tariffs will see their annual payments capped from the end of the year.
The market regulator, Ofgem, says typical users stand to save £75 a year once SVRs are capped at £1,136 a year.
But there are around 100 fixed rate tariffs that cost less than that amount. In fact, typical users can save up to £250* a year by switching away from an SVR with a ‘Big Six’ provider to a fixed rate deal with another firm.
So the message is clear: if you’re on an SVR, don’t wait for the cap. Switch and fix today to save even more.
*Based on the average saving for customers that applied to switch via MoneySuperMarket, March 2018
What's next?
Be with your new supplier within a few weeks’ time.
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Switching DOESN’T mean your energy gets
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We compare a wide range of suppliers and deals from across the market
We work with over 20 energy suppliers including all of the big brands to help you make savings on your energy bills.
GAS & ELECTRICITY
Don't overpay for energy †
It only takes five minutes to find out if you could beat the price hikes. Compare gas and electricity quotes now to see how much you could save when you switch supplier or tariff. Don’t be one of the 60% of households that pay too much for your energy bills.
Compare nowBUSINESS ENERGY
Cut business energy costs
An easy way to cut your outgoings is to start with the basics. Energy is an essential for most businesses, but it might not need to be a big expense. Comparing prices and getting a good deal on your business energy supplier is a quick win when it comes to saving on business costs.
Compare now† 60% of UK consumers are on standard variable tariffs, Ofgem Retail Energy Market report 2017
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Unlike some of our competitors, MoneySuperMarket is not owned by an insurance company. So we can offer the best value, with savings delivered straight to you.
We combine independence, so we can negotiate the best prices, with excellent technology, to find the best value products and services for you.
That makes us—in our customers' opinions—the best price comparison website.
Compare energy prices
It’s easy to compare energy prices
It only takes a few minutes to compare energy prices, and you could save yourself as much as £250*.
Here's what you need to do to compare energy rates:
- Go to our energy journey and put in your details, including your postcode and current supplier
- Compare energy tariffs from a number of providers
- Choose the deal you want
- Put in a few confirmation details, like your direct debit and contact details
- Click to confirm, and you’ll be switched within three weeks
It doesn’t matter whether you own or rent your home – you can still compare energy deals and start saving on your bills.
Did you know? Two thirds of UK households are on standard variable tariffs**, and if you’re one of them, the chances are that you’re paying too much for your energy bills.
*Based on average saving of £250 for customers that applied to switch via MoneySuperMarket. March 2018.
**60% of UK consumers are on standard variable tariffs, Ofgem Retail Energy Market report 2017
Compare gas and electric
It’s possible to compare gas and electric prices with MoneySuperMarket. When you get both types of energy from the same supplier, it’s called a dual fuel tariff – and you can see this option when you run a gas and electricity comparison online.
Some gas and electricity providers will offer a discount if you switch to a duel fuel tariff – if this applies, it will be shown in the tariff details.
Be aware that the best gas and electric deal may not be the cheapest option. It’s always recommended that you check the price of buying your gas and electricity separately, too.
Compare gas only
If you only want to compare gas prices, you can choose this option at the start of the energy comparison process. If you select just gas, you’ll only compare gas prices and you won’t see any electricity tariffs.
Compare electricity only
If you’re looking to compare electricity providers alone, you can do so by choosing this type of energy when you start your electricity comparison. This will show you a number of energy suppliers that have electricity tariffs without gas or duel fuel deals included.
Compare energy suppliers
How to compare energy suppliers
When it comes to comparing energy suppliers, the price of the deal is important, but it’s not the only thing you should consider. When you’re looking for the best gas or electricity provider, it’s wise to look at the company’s reputation as well as their prices.
One of the best ways to compare energy providers is to review the range of services they offer, their customer service opening hours, and how they handle billing queries. Reviews from other customers can also help you get a feel for a company.
The cheapest electricity company may be one you’ve never heard of. But, every energy supplier in the UK is regulated by Ofgem, which means that smaller companies have to follow exactly the same rules as the bigger, well-known companies.
This should give you confidence that all the companies you’ll see when you run an energy supplier comparison are regulated, and have to follow exactly the same rules. If a company goes bust, you’ll be covered by Ofgem – they’ll ensure your supply isn’t cut off, and they’ll appoint a new supplier to take over your tariff.
If you see a deal from a company you don’t recognise, you can find out more about them here.
Don’t get caught out by rising energy prices
How to avoid energy price hikes
Increasing energy prices has become such a problem that the government is looking to introduce an energy price cap before the 2018 winter. A new law will allow energy regulator Ofgem to apply the cap, which is expected to save people up to £100 a year.
Before this happens, energy suppliers are still allowed to hike their prices – and a number of them introduced big price increases in 2017.
Anyone on a standard rate tariff is at risk of seeing rising energy bills – so one of the best ways to protect from energy price increases is to switch to a fixed rate tariff. This means that for the duration of the deal, the cost of your energy and gas will be fixed. You may be able to switch to a cheaper fixed price tariff at any point, or you may have to pay a fee if you switch before the end of the deal – so check your paperwork.
Switching is the quickest and easiest way to save on energy bills
Switch energy provider to save
You’re most likely to save money by switching energy provider or switching to a new tariff. The average household can save up to £250† when they do this.
It’s quick and it’s easy: comparing energy deals takes minutes and we’ll manage the switch for you. Within three weeks, you’ll be up and running with your new supplier, and there’s no risk of losing gas or electricity supply to your home.
Find out more about switching energy supplier.
†Based on average saving of £250 for customers that applied to switch via MoneySuperMarket. March 2018.
Why you should compare energy prices
Comparing energy prices is an easy way to save money on your bills - you could save up to £250† by switching to a different provider.
You won't get a cheaper price by going direct to the energy supplier, because industry rules say that companies can’t offer cheaper prices than those you see on our site. You can be confident that you won’t find these deals cheaper anywhere else.
It only takes a few minutes to compare energy prices, and see how much you could save.
How does switching work?
How to switch energy supplier
Here's what you need to do to switch energy provider:
- Go to our energy page and put in your details, including your postcode and current supplier
- Choose a deal from the results table
- Put in a few confirmation details, like your direct debit and contact details
- Click to start the switching process
- You’ll be set up with your new provider within 21 days
Anyone who switches gas or electricity provider will be given a two-week ‘cooling off’ period, during which you can choose to cancel the switch free of charge.
Understand your energy bills
How to understand your energy bill
Cut through the jargon and get help understanding your energy bills. The key things to be aware of are:
- Your tariff: your bill will show you the name of your tariff
- Comparison rate: this highlights how much your tariff costs, so you can compare the rate
- Energy consumption: how much electricity or gas you’ve used in kilowatt hours (kWh)
- Terms and conditions: this is where you’ll find details such as any notice period, the conditions of your current price plan and everything else
Tips on saving energy
How to save electricity and gas
Our energy saving tips show you how to save electricity and gas in the home. These tips include:
- Turn off anything left on standby
- Turn down your heating or install a smart thermostat
- Buy energy efficient appliances
- Install a new boiler
- Wash your clothes at lower temperatures
- Invest in double glazing
- Insulate your roof and/or walls
We think it’s important for you to have all the information you need to make your home as energy efficient as possible, so you can save on your household bills.
Here are some organisations that offer advice and support with energy efficiency:
Ofgem Confidence Code
We’re an accredited site under the Ogfem Confidence Code. This is a code of practice that governs how price comparison websites work. Because we’re accredited, we have to follow strict rules about how we do business, to make sure that the process of switching your energy supplier is as easy, reliable and reassuring as possible for you.
Latest energy news
Our news articles will keep you up to date with the latest stories in the energy market. We’ll let you know what’s happening, and explain what it means for you.
How do energy comparison sites work?
MoneySuperMarket is an energy comparison site that helps you to save money by checking if there’s a cheaper gas or electricity tariff available to you.
We’re accredited by the Ofgem Confidence Code, which governs how energy comparison sites work. This means we’re bound to strict rules about how we do business, to make sure that switching energy is easy, reliable and reassuring for you.
Like most energy comparison sites, we’re paid a fee each time someone switches tariffs. Find out more about how MoneySuperMarket works.
Why should I bother switching energy supplier?
Why switch energy providers?
Switching to a new energy tariff is an easy way to save money on your household bills.
Almost two thirds of UK households are paying too much for their gas and electricity*, so there’s a good chance you could save by shopping around and switching to a cheaper deal. It only takes a few minutes to run a comparison, and you could save hundreds of pounds.**
*57% of people with the 10 largest suppliers are on non price-protected SVTs, Ofgem trends report, September 2017
** Based on average saving of £250 for customers that applied to switch via MoneySuperMarket. March 2018.
How do I switch energy suppliers?
Switching your energy supplier is more straightforward than you might think. To find a new deal, just go to our energy page and put in a few details about your property and the amount of energy you tend to use. It’s best if you’ve got a recent bill to hand, but don’t worry if you haven’t got one to hand, as we can still estimate.
You’ll then see a list of tariffs, with a savings figure next to each one – this tells you how much you could save by switching to that deal. All you have to do is choose the one you’d like to go for, put in a few more details to confirm, and that’s it.
What happens when I switch?
When you switch to a new energy supplier, they’ll write to you to tell you what date you’ll be switched over. They’ll contact you around the time of the switch to ask for a meter reading, and they’ll pass this on to your old supplier, so that they can send you a final bill.
And that’s it – that’s all you have to do.
You won’t need any new pipes, there won’t be any digging or drilling, and there won’t be any interruption to your gas or electricity supply.
How long will it take to switch?
You’ll be switched over to your new supplier within three weeks.
Most energy companies in the UK are signed up to the Energy Switch Guarantee, which guarantees that the supplier you’re switching to will handle the switching process, and that it will be done within 21 days.
I’ve never heard of this company – how do I know they’re above board?
Every single energy supplier in the UK is regulated by Ofgem, the industry regulator. This means that the smaller, lesser-known companies have to follow exactly the same rules as the bigger, more established ones. If a company goes bust, you’ll be covered by Ofgem – they’ll ensure your supply isn’t cut off, and they’ll appoint a new supplier to take over your tariff.
How do I choose the right tariff?
When you’re choosing a new energy deal, think about whether to go for dual fuel (where you get both your gas and electricity from the same company) or separate tariffs (where you get gas from one company, and electricity from another). It’s worth checking both options, as the combined price of separate tariffs can sometimes be less than a dual fuel offer.
Think about whether you’d like to go for a fixed deal or a variable deal. Fixed deals can be a bit more expensive at the beginning, but you’ll know that your bills won’t suddenly jump during the fixed term.
The way you pay your bills can also affect the price – you can often get a discount for paying by direct debit, and for managing your account online, with no paper communications.
Do I need to tell my current supplier?
No. When you’ve chosen a new deal, your new supplier will handle the switching process. They’ll contact you to let you know what date you’ll be transferred over, and they’ll contact you around the switching date to ask for a meter reading. They’ll pass this on to your old supplier so they can send you a final bill. You don’t need to contact your old supplier, as the new supplier will handle everything for you.
Do I need to cancel my Direct Debit?
Yes. When you close your account with your old supplier, they will send you a final bill. Once this payment has gone out of your account, you should cancel your Direct Debit. If your account is in credit, the supplier should send you the balance.
More energy services
More energy services
Why use MoneySuperMarket to switch your energy?
You could save hundreds of pounds by switching your gas and electricity to a cheaper tariff through MoneySuperMarket.
We help you compare prices from all the energy suppliers in the UK, so you can find the cheapest deals in the market.
It only takes a few minutes to find a cheaper energy deal. All you have to do is answer some simple questions, and we'll show you tariffs and offers from all the energy companies. We’ll also show you how much you could save by switching to each tariff, to help you choose the best one for you.
We can help you switch to tariffs from most companies directly through MoneySuperMarket. Just click the green button, answer a few more questions, and you’re done.
If you’d prefer to talk to someone, you can call us on 0800 177 7087. We can answer any questions you might have, and even switch you to a new deal over the phone.
How do we make money from utility switches?
It’s completely free to compare utilities on our website. We don’t make any money from a simple comparison of energy companies.
However, if you were to click through a company and switch after a utility comparison on our website, we’d be paid a fee. If the switch doesn’t go ahead, or you cancel the switch, we don’t get paid.
Some utilities companies also ask us to help them keep their customers, so if you switch to a different deal but stay with the same supplier, that company will pay us a fee.
Do we compare the whole energy market?
We can show you deals from all the energy companies in the market, and we can help you switch to most of them. A few companies don’t want to work with us in this way, so although you can see their deals in the results table and compare them to everyone else’s, you can’t click through to their site from ours.
But we do work with every energy company in the UK to make sure all our prices are accurate. This means we can show you a very good estimate of what your bill would be if you used each energy provider. We do this to help you see what you could save by switching.
When you see a list of energy deals on our site, you have the option to see only the tariffs you can switch to through us. These are deals from companies that pay us a fee when someone switches to them through MoneySuperMarket. You can see a full list of the companies that you can switch to through us here.
The deals from suppliers that work with us have a green button to click so you can complete your switch. The suppliers that don’t work with us don’t have this button on their deals, so you’ll need to contact them directly if you want to switch to them.
Energy companies can't offer cheaper prices than what you see on our site, because of the energy industry rules. So you can be confident you won't find these deals cheaper anywhere else.
How do our relationships with energy companies affect our service to you?
We never let energy companies get in the way of what's best for our customers.
We always show you how much you can save by switching, and the saving you can make is not affected by whether we are paid a fee, or the size of that fee.
We’ve signed up to a code of practice called the Confidence Code which is operated by the industry regulator Ofgem as a sign of our promise to put customers first.
Why are we telling you this?
Our services are always free to you, our customers. But we think it's important that we're transparent about how we earn money, so you can be confident we put our customers first.