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Energy Comparison | Compare and Switch Energy

Compare energy deals

Energy is essential, but there’s no need to pay over the odds for your gas and electricity. Run an energy comparison and you could cut your bills by an average of £216*

*You could save an average of £216: Between 1 July 2020 and 31 December 2020, people who switched energy supplier for both gas and electricity with Uswitch saved an average of £216.

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Last updated: 2 May 2022

Why compare energy suppliers?

Comparing energy suppliers could save you money on your bills, particularly if your current plan is coming to an end. It’s an essential part of looking for a new energy deal.

There are many energy comparison sites to choose from. We use the Uswitch engine to look at multiple providers simultaneously, which helps give you a complete picture of the sorts of prices you could be paying as well as which suppliers and tariffs offer the best value.

On TrustPilot, Uswitch user Daisy Cullen says:
“My dual-energy plan was coming to an end. I was with npower, who I always thought were cheap but then they were bought over by E.ON Next. Not really knowing much about them and not having a choice to go with them either I had no loyalty to stay. So I investigated to see what my new tariff plan would look like and it was a lot higher than my old plan.”
Daisy Cullen, TrustPilot

This is a common theme. Energy suppliers usually roll you onto a more expensive variable deal when your current fixed-price deal comes to an end. That’s one key reason to consider switching your deal regularly.

You should also look at other factors to help determine the best energy deals and suppliers for your individual needs. An energy comparison includes all these criteria in its results, but you should check our individual energy supplier guides too.

Which energy suppliers does Money.co.uk run electricity price comparisons for?

We cover a huge range of suppliers so you can find the very best deals. The providers we list include:

British Gas
E.ON
OVO
Green Network Energy
Avro Energy
Shell Energy
npower
ESB
EDF
E.ON
Octopus
Bulb
SSE
ScottishPower

Which suppliers offer single-fuel plans?

Plenty of leading names will offer you single-fuel deals on either electricity or gas, including:

ScottishPower
British Gas
SSE
Bristol Energy
SO Energy
E.ON

Compare energy for smart meter plans

Most suppliers offer plans with smart meter options. Some plans offer cheaper prices if you have a smart meter or agree to have one fitted.

Be aware that some older smart meters become “dumb” once you’re no longer with the energy supplier who installed them. You can still use them to monitor your usage, but you need to manually submit regular meter readings. This applies to the old SMETS1 smart meters.

Any smart meter currently being installed should be a SMETS2 meter, which works with all suppliers, but it’s worth double-checking that this is the case.

Note: you won’t need to replace your older SMETS1 smart meter with a newer SMETS2 model – the plan is to roll out software upgrades to SMETS1 meters to make them compatible with all suppliers.

How do I make an energy comparison?

Just follow these four simple steps:

1. Enter your postcode

Providing information on your physical location enables us to narrow our search to the energy suppliers and tariffs that are available in your area.

2. Tell us about your current plan

Let us know how much you pay or how much energy you use each month so our quotes can best reflect your estimated monthly cost.

3. Compare energy prices and pick one

We list all the best deals around. You can filter them by fuel, payment method, plan type and more – just pick the one that’s best for you.

4. Start the switch in seconds

All we need is your address and bank details to get the ball rolling on your energy switch, which will be complete in just 21 days.

What should I look for when I perform an energy comparison?

There are a number of options which determine the structure of an energy plan. With our comparison, you can filter them by the following options:

Fixed-price and variable plans

Fixed-price energy plans ensure that the price you pay per unit of energy stays the same until the end of your contract. Variable energy plans are subject to change, so your unit prices – and thus your energy bill – may go up or down, even if your usage remains constant.

Single- or dual-fuel plans

Single-fuel plans are aimed at those who only use electricity or gas, while dual-fuel plans are targeted at those who use both.

Exit fees

Exit fees are usually added to some (but not all) fixed-price energy plans to guard against customers leaving the plans early. You can still leave, but you’ll have to pay a certain amount for each fuel. Some plans – including most variable plans – don’t come with exit fees, and you can filter your results to view only those that don’t charge an exit fee if you prefer.

Payment methods

You can pay for your energy in a variety of ways:

monthly direct debit
when billed using a debit or credit card or a cheque
in advance by topping up a prepayment meter

Green or Eco energy

Energy providers are increasingly moving towards green energy sources, but if you want to be 100% sure your gas and electricity is green you can use our handy filter.

Energy comparison FAQs

Sometimes. People often think a dual-fuel plan is cheaper than two separate plans, but this isn’t always the case. It’s certainly more convenient going with a single supplier for both gas and electric, as the start date for your fixed plan will be the same for both, making switching a lot easier going forward. But the choice is yours – compare potential plans to see which offers the best value.

Don’t worry, any customers of a failed energy company are automatically transferred to a new supplier. Your energy supply won’t be interrupted, but it does mean you’ll probably end up on the new supplier’s “deemed tariff”, which is generally an expensive standard variable tariff. If you think your energy supplier has gone bust, check with Ofgem. Its advice is to wait until the new supplier is in place, but you should sort out an energy switch as soon as possible so you don’t end up spending more than necessary.

You can make an energy switch at any time. If your contract comes with exit fees it’s best to change suppliers once you’re in the “switching window”, which starts 49 days before the end of your contract. If you change outside of this period, you have to pay the exit fees, but once you’re in the switching window, you can move to a new tariff or supplier without penalty. If you’re desperate to switch outside your switching window, look for a supplier that’s willing to pay some or all of your exit fees in return for gaining a new customer.