British Gas is the UK's oldest gas and electricity provider. It supplies energy to around 11 million homes in the UK.
It is part of the Centrica Group and is one of the 'Big Six' energy suppliers.
British Gas is known as Scottish Gas in Scotland and Nwy Prydain in Wales.
The firm offers smart meters, including Hive, and boiler cover. Free electricity on Saturdays and Sundays form part of British Gas’s new FreeTime smart meter tariff which launched this year.
Sainsbury's Energy has been in partnership with British Gas since 2011, and Sainsbury's energy customers are eligible for a combination of Nectar points and rewards.
What tariffs does British Gas offer?
Tariff name | Tariff type* | Average bill value** | Exit fees*** |
|---|---|---|---|
HomeEnergy Secure Aug 2019 | Dual Fuel – Fixed | £1,107
| £40/Fuel
|
Standard Prepayment | Prepayment – Variable | £1,017 |
|
HomeEnergy Capped Nov 2018 | Dual Fuel – Fixed | £1,120
| £20/Fuel |
Standard
| Dual Fuel –Variable
| £1,120
| N/A |
Tariff information correct as of 14 August 2017
*The range of gas and electricity tariffs includes standard variable rate, fixed rate, 'green' and prepayment deals. Click here to find out why we think fixed rate tariffs are worth checking out.
** The average bill is an average price of all 14 energy regions using the Ofgem medium usage of 3100kwh of electricity and 12500kwh of gas on a dual fuel (gas and electricity) tariff, paying by monthly direct debit. Prices correct at time of publishing.
***Exit fees are payable on some tariffs when you switch your energy provider before the end of your fixed term contract. Fees are typically £25 - £30 per fuel.
How can I contact British Gas?
Online enquiry form: https://www.britishgas.co.uk/Help_Advice/ContactUs/
Email: customerservice@britishgas.co.uk
Telephone:
Pay As You Go enquiries - 0800 048 0303
Moving home - 0800 048 0303
Home energy top up - 0800 107 0188
Lines are open from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 6pm on Saturday.
What do I need to do if I want to change my current provider?
Changing your energy provider has never been easier. It only takes minutes to run a quote on our site, and within 17 days you could be up and running with your new supplier Click here to run a price comparison.
Our video guide below explains how hassle-free the switching process is.
What happens if my energy supplier goes bust?
It is very rare for an energy supplier to go out of business, but it happened in 2016, with the collapse of GB Energy.
As happened then, any future collapse and its consequences would be managed by Ofgem, the energy market regulator. Thanks to Ofgem’s safety net, even if your supplier goes out of business, your gas and/or electricity supply will never be cut off or interrupted.
All UK energy suppliers are regulated by Ofgem.
In addition to guaranteeing continuity of supply, Ofgem works to move customers of a failed company to the best possible deal, with any debit/credit transferred to a new supplier that is chosen to inherit the business.
Read our Q&A on this topic here.