Compare gas and electricity prices — then switch online
Quick answer: To compare gas and electricity prices, enter your postcode, meter type, payment method and yearly usage (kWh) into a comparison. Then set each quote’s unit rates, standing charges and exit fees against what you pay now. If a tariff costs less for your usage after fees, you can switch online. The new supplier handles the move, and your gas and electricity supply is not interrupted. No single supplier is cheapest for every home, so a personalised comparison is the only reliable test.
Disclosure: we may earn a commission if you switch through this link. It does not change the price you are quoted.
If you do not know your usage, a comparison can estimate it, but real figures give a fairer result. That matters most if your home is unusual: very low use, an electric vehicle, a heat pump, storage heaters or an Economy 7 meter.
This page is for households in Great Britain who pay a domestic gas and/or electricity bill and want to know if another tariff would cost them less. That covers homeowners, tenants who are named on the energy account, dual-fuel homes and single-fuel homes (electricity-only or gas-only). It also covers people on a default or standard variable tariff (SVT) protected by the Ofgem energy price cap, and people coming to the end of a fixed deal.
If you are on a default tariff, your unit rates and standing charges are limited by Ofgem’s price cap. These are Ofgem’s Great Britain average capped rates for Direct Debit customers in the current period. We checked them against Ofgem on 2 November 2026:
| Fuel | Unit rate | Standing charge |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 26.32p per kWh | 54.83p a day |
| Gas | 7.97p per kWh | 29.68p a day |
Ofgem’s headline figure for a typical dual-fuel household paying by Direct Debit is about £1,723 a year for 1 October – 31 December 2026, up from about £1,663 for July – September (Ofgem, 26 August 2026). That figure assumes Ofgem’s 2026 medium usage of 2,500 kWh of electricity and 9,500 kWh of gas a year. It is an illustration, not a bill: your cost depends on your own kWh, your region and how you pay. Gas rates include 5% VAT. Ofgem says there is no VAT on domestic electricity from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, so compare quotes on the same VAT basis. Regional rates differ. See price cap rates by region and standing charges from October 2026.
January 2027: Ofgem has not yet announced the cap for 1 January – 31 March 2027. It is due by 25 November 2026. Forecasts from consultancies and suppliers are not official. We list them with dates on the January 2027 price cap forecast tracker, and we will update this section once Ofgem publishes.
The price cap is a safety net for default tariffs. It is not the cheapest price available. Fixed tariffs sit outside the cap and can come in below or above capped rates:
When it announced the October cap (26 August 2026), Ofgem said fixed tariffs were available “at £100 or more below the October price cap”. It also said around 35% of households were on fixed tariffs. That was a snapshot from August, not a guarantee today. Which fixes beat the cap changes week to week, so check with a live quote. For current offers set against the cap, see energy switch offers UK. To test a specific fix against capped rates, use the fix vs price cap calculator, and for timing see should I fix my energy deal this winter?
Ending a fix? Citizens Advice says you can switch without an exit fee if you have 49 days or less left on a fixed contract. With 50 days or more left, check the exit fee before you move.
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Unit rates (p/kWh) for each fuel | Drive most of the bill for medium and high users |
| Standing charges (p/day) for each fuel | A fixed daily cost; a bigger share of the bill if you use little energy |
| Exit fees and fix end date | Leaving early can wipe out an apparent saving, on your current deal and on the new one |
| Payment method | Direct Debit, pay on receipt and prepayment are priced differently |
| Meter type | Economy 7 and time-of-use tariffs have different day and night rates |
| Dual fuel vs separate suppliers | One supplier is convenient; separate deals are sometimes cheaper overall |
How to work out a fair annual cost:
Annual cost ≈ (electricity unit rate × your electricity kWh) + (gas unit rate × your gas kWh) + (electricity standing charge × 365) + (gas standing charge × 365) + any exit fee for leaving your current fix early.
Low-usage homes feel standing charges more, and high-usage homes feel unit rates more. That is why a tariff with a cheap headline unit rate can still cost you more. For the kWh figures behind Ofgem’s “typical” bills, see typical energy usage and the price cap.
This applies the formula above to Ofgem’s capped Direct Debit rates for 1 October – 31 December 2026, as if they ran for a full year. It shows the method only. It is not a live tariff, not a forecast and not a promise of savings.
| Line | Medium use (2,500 kWh elec / 9,500 kWh gas) | Low use (1,600 kWh elec / 6,000 kWh gas) |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity units (26.32p/kWh) | £658.00 | £421.12 |
| Electricity standing charge (54.83p × 365) | £200.13 | £200.13 |
| Gas units (7.97p/kWh) | £757.15 | £478.20 |
| Gas standing charge (29.68p × 365) | £108.33 | £108.33 |
| Estimated annual total | about £1,724 (in line with Ofgem’s £1,723 headline) | about £1,208 |
| Standing charges as a share of the total | about 18% | about 26% |
The usage figures are Ofgem’s 2026 medium and low typical consumption values. In the low-use case, standing charges make up roughly a quarter of the bill, so a tariff with a lower daily charge can win even if its unit rate is slightly higher. To use the example, take your own kWh, put the quote’s rates into the same lines, and do the same for your current tariff. The difference between the two totals is the saving to test. If you are on a fix, add any exit fee to the cost of leaving.
Searches for the cheapest energy deals or the best energy supplier often expect one company name. In Great Britain there is no permanent winner. Wholesale costs, regional network charges, meter type, payment method and your own usage all move the ranking. League tables usually assume one typical household. If you use more electricity than gas, have a heat pump, EV or Economy 7 meter, or live in a region with high standing charges, the winner can change.
EnergySwitch does not claim that any one company is always the cheapest or best supplier in the UK. Compare live tariffs for your home instead.
“Cheapest” usually means the lowest estimated annual cost for your usage once unit rates, standing charges and exit fees are counted. “Best” also weighs trade-offs:
Choose the deal that wins on total cost for your usage and still fits your constraints. A single low unit rate on a league table is not enough.
The shape of your usage matters as much as the total kWh. A dual-fuel “typical home” winner may not be the cheapest option for you:
Enter your real meter type and usage when you compare, rather than accepting a standard dual-fuel assumption.
How you pay changes the price. Direct Debit is usually cheaper than paying on receipt of a bill (standard credit) on the same tariff type. Ofgem publishes separate capped levels for each payment method. When it announced the October 2026 cap, it said prepayment customers pay the lowest cap rates, on average about £45 a year less than Direct Debit. Prepayment customers can still switch, although fewer tariffs are usually available. See prepayment vs Direct Debit (October 2026) before you change payment method just to chase a headline rate.
If you owe money, Ofgem says you can usually still switch if you have been in debt to your supplier for less than 28 days, or if you have a prepayment meter and owe up to £500. If you have been in debt for more than 28 days, you need to repay it before you switch supplier or tariff. If you are struggling, contact your supplier first and ask about an affordable repayment plan.
The step-by-step version is in how to switch energy supplier. If you are moving house, read moving home and your energy supplier first.
If the numbers still favour your current deal, staying put is a fine outcome. You can lower usage as well as price with our energy saving advice.
Compare gas and electricity deals
Disclosure: we may earn a commission if you switch through this link.
Using the comparison is free. Like most UK comparison services, EnergySwitch may earn a commission from a comparison partner or supplier if you switch through a link on this site. The business you deal with pays it, and it is not added to your energy bill. The rates you are quoted should be that tariff’s prices.
A comparison service can only show and switch you to the tariffs it has access to, so it may not cover every deal on the market. You can also check independent tools or switch directly with a supplier. For the legal wording on affiliate links, see our terms of use, and read about EnergySwitch.
Enter your postcode, meter type, payment method and annual usage (or a recent bill) into a comparison. Then set unit rates, standing charges and exit fees against your current tariff. If a quote costs less for your actual kWh after fees, you can switch online. Suppliers must complete a home switch within 5 working days, and your supply is not interrupted.
No single deal is cheapest for every household. The lowest-cost tariff for you depends on your usage, region, meter type and payment method, and fixed deals come and go. Compare live quotes with your postcode and kWh rather than relying on a static list.
No. Rankings change with wholesale prices, regional charges and your own usage. Treat “best supplier” lists as a starting point only, then compare live tariffs for your home.
Cheapest usually means the lowest estimated annual cost for your usage after unit rates, standing charges and exit fees. Best can also weigh fix length, flexibility, dual fuel vs separate deals and green sourcing, so the best deal for you may not be the cheapest on paper.
It depends on your tariff, not the calendar. Ofgem will announce the January – March 2027 cap by 25 November 2026, and forecasts are not official. If you are on a default tariff and a fixed deal already beats your current rates for your usage after any fees, waiting may cost more. If you are already on a fix, a cap change does not affect your rates until the fix ends.
Sometimes. In August 2026, Ofgem said fixed tariffs were available at £100 or more below the October cap, but availability changes week to week. Compare the full cost of a fix, including exit fees, against capped rates for your usage.
Sometimes, when wholesale prices fall, but they can rise too. Fixed deals trade flexibility for a locked rate. Compare the full cost for your usage.
Yes, though the range is often smaller. Ofgem’s cap for prepayment default tariffs is lower than for Direct Debit. Compare prepayment-eligible tariffs and check the debt rules before switching.
Usually, if the debt is less than 28 days old, or if you have a prepayment meter and owe up to £500 (Ofgem). If you have been in debt for longer than 28 days, you normally need to repay it first.
They can be, if your usage fits their off-peak windows. If you use most electricity at peak times, a standard single-rate tariff may still win. Compare with your meter type and a realistic split of day and night use.
Enter your real electricity kWh (and gas if you use it), meter type and postcode, then sort by estimated annual cost. Electricity-heavy homes should focus on unit rates and off-peak windows, and should also check standing charges and that quotes reflect 0% VAT on electricity from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027.
Not always. “Green” describes how the energy is sourced, so compare the price like any other tariff.
No. Switching changes who bills you. Gas and electricity still flow through the same network.
Usually yes, if you pay the energy bills and the account is in your name. If energy is included in your rent, the landlord chooses the supplier. Check your tenancy agreement for any terms about returning to the original supplier when you leave.
The comparison is free for you. EnergySwitch may earn a commission if you switch through this site. That fee is paid by the partner or supplier, not added to your bill. You can also switch directly with a supplier.
We checked these on 2 November 2026:
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