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UK’s leading energy switching site
We compare energy suppliers including...
British Gas
E.ON
EDF
npower
Scottish Power
SSE
Ovo Energy
First Utility
Co-op Energy
Octopus Energy
ENGIE
uSwitch is a Feefo 2018 Gold Trusted Service award winner

How to compare energy with uSwitch

  1. Enter your postcode and your energy habits so we can tailor our search to you
  2. We compare the best energy plans in your area, just take your pick
  3. Confirm your switch with us and we’ll notify your old and new suppliers. That’s it!

Energy comparison FAQs

Why compare energy with uSwitch?

  • We’re free, trusted and Ofgem accredited
  • Compare energy prices with just your postcode and an energy bill
  • Our uSwitch guarantee: you have 14 days to cancel your switch
  • We often have exclusive tariffs you won’t find anywhere else

Run an energy comparison:

How to run an energy comparison with uSwitch

uSwitch can help you find the best energy prices in your area — just follow these simple steps to compare gas and electricity:

  1. Enter your postcode
  2. Tell us how much energy you use, and who supplies it
  3. We’ll show you the cheapest energy deals in your area
  4. Choose the plan that suits you
  5. Sit back, you’ve switched! We’ll take care of the rest

What is uSwitch?

uSwitch is a free, independent price comparison service that can help you compare energy prices and switch your gas and electricity supplier to save on your household bills.

We’re the most popular energy comparison site in the UK, but don’t take our word for it. We’ve helped more than five million people compare energy deals and save on their energy bills. Since 2006, uSwitch has been fully accredited by the Ofgem Confidence Code.

Find out more about uSwitch and how it works.

Why should I compare energy prices and switch?

If you haven’t switched your energy tariff recently, it’s unlikely you’re on the best deal available. With uSwitch you could save up to £447 on your energy bills simply by switching.

There’s no one cheap energy supplier for everybody, so it’s important to run an energy comparison based on your details. That way we can help you find the best energy deals in your area and for your needs.

How can I get a cheap gas and electricity deal?

To find the cheapest gas and electricity deals you’ll need to shop around once your fixed plan has ended. After your plan’s end date you’ll likely be rolled onto a standard tariff, which is the most expensive type of plan.

If you’ve never switched or haven’t done so for a while, it’s likely you can find a cheaper energy deal in minutes with uSwitch. Simply enter a few details and search for a cheap energy deal.

You might not even need to switch away from your supplier to find a cheap energy tariff. Check to see if your current supplier has a cheap gas and electricity deal on offer — the cheapest energy supplier for you could be the one you’re already with.

What information do I need to provide to compare energy prices?

For us to run an energy comparison, we’ll need your postcode and address details as well as a recent energy bill. If you don’t have a bill you can just tell us how much you pay for your gas and electricity. If you don’t know how much you pay we can estimate your usage based on a few extra details. To complete your switch you’ll need to provide contact and payment details so your new supplier can take over your energy account.

How do I use uSwitch?

There are four easy ways to compare energy deals with uSwitch — and all of them are completely free:

  1. Enter your postcode on this page
  2. Call us on 0800 688 8244
  3. Download our mobile app
  4. Send us your energy bill

What happens once I’ve switched energy?

uSwitch is a free service that handles the switching process for you. Once you’ve completed your energy switch, your new energy supplier will contact your old supplier and agree a switching date. You will then receive a welcome pack and letter from your new gas and electricity supplier. This will outline what you’ve agreed to, and tell you what happens next. There won’t be any interruption in your energy supply.

How long does it take to switch energy supplier?

It only takes a few minutes to run an energy comparison with uSwitch. Once you’ve confirmed your switch with us, there’s a 14-day cooling-off period in which you can cancel your switch if you change your mind. The whole energy switching process should be complete in 17 days.

Why are my energy bills so high?

Your gas and electricity bills are largely dependent on usage, but there are other reasons your bills might have gone up recently:

  1. Your fixed price plan ended
    A fixed price plan protects against price rises. These plans do end though, and when they do you get automatically rolled on to a new plan with different rates. This is often a standard variable tariff or default tariff, the most expensive type of plan on offer.

  2. Your energy supplier has raised prices
    If you’re on a standard variable or default tariff, your energy supplier can raise prices at any time. In 2019, many energy suppliers raised their prices in reaction to an increase in Ofgem’s energy price cap.

  3. Your bills are based on estimated meter readings
    Check that your bill is based on actual readings of your electricity meter rather than estimated ones. It’s important to take your own readings so that you get charged accurately. Or consider getting a smart meter, which provides real-time meter readings and can help you monitor your energy usage — you can request one from your supplier or switch to a smart meter tariff.

Which is the cheapest energy supplier?

The cheapest energy supplier for someone else isn’t necessarily the cheapest for you. That’s why it’s important to run an energy comparison tailored to you.

Energy suppliers vary their pricing by region and your bill will also depend on your usage. Different energy suppliers also target different types of household, so some might offer a cheaper deal to a family home with high usage, while someone living alone with low usage might find a cheaper energy deal with a different supplier.

Can I compare gas prices or compare electricity prices separately?

Yes, while you can compare dual fuel prices with uSwitch you can also choose to compare gas prices or compare electricity prices separately, depending on your needs.

Not all households use both types of energy and many energy suppliers offer tariffs for just one type of fuel. You can also compare gas and electricity separately if you wish to choose different suppliers for each instead of using a dual fuel tariff.

Can I switch my energy plan if I have a prepayment meter?

Yes, you can switch your energy deal if you’re on a prepayment meter. Just select ‘Prepayment meter’ when you’re asked how you pay your energy bills. You can tell you’re on a prepayment meter if you pay in advance with a smart card, token or key. You can also choose to switch away from using a prepayment meter by replacing it with a credit meter.

Can I switch energy if I’m renting?

Yes, you can switch to a better energy deal if you’re a tenant. The only exception is if your landlord pays the energy bills or if energy charges are included in your rent. If your name is on your energy bill you have the right to switch energy supplier and save on your bills.

What’s the difference between a fixed rate contract and a variable rate tariff?

Once you’ve run an energy comparison you’ll be able to choose from available tariffs, which could include fixed rate contracts or variable price tariffs. Fixed rate contracts usually last between 12 and 24 months and guarantee the rate you pay for your energy during this time. Variable price tariffs can go up or down depending on wholesale energy prices.

It’s important to note that this is different from a standard variable tariff, which you’ll usually be switched to after your fixed rate ends. Standard variable tariffs are usually a supplier’s most expensive plan so it can pay to shop around if you’ve been rolled onto this type of plan after your fixed rate term has ended.

How do I know the best energy supplier for me?

The best gas and electricity supplier for you won’t necessarily be the cheapest. You can use uSwitch to filter by what’s important to you, whether that’s a large supplier or one that offers green energy plans.

We also know customer service is important, so we’ve assigned each supplier star ratings based on our energy customer satisfaction report to help you compare energy suppliers, from the well-known ‘big six’ to the smaller suppliers you might not be so familiar with.

Can I switch to the same energy supplier?

If you don’t want to switch away from your supplier, you still might be able to find a better deal with uSwitch. If you haven’t switched your energy deal before it’s likely that you’re on your provider’s standard variable or default tariff, which is typically the most expensive type of plan on offer. You can use uSwitch to switch to a better energy deal from your current provider if you’re happy with the service but want to save on your energy bills.

Find out more

Gas and electricity suppliers

Compare energy suppliers with uSwitch

There are more gas and electricity suppliers on the market than ever before. It can feel overwhelming trying to choose the right energy deal for you but uSwitch makes it simple.

We provide customer ratings for more than 30 suppliers. These ratings are based on responses from more than 17,000 energy customers in 2019 as part of uSwitch’s independent YouGov survey.

Run an energy comparison:

British Gas is the UK's largest supplier of domestic gas and electricity, making them the biggest of the big six. British Gas also offer home services including boiler cover and remote heating control systems.

Customer rating:

E.ON is another big six energy supplier. Along with gas and electricity, the supplier offers boiler cover and insulation.

Customer rating:

EDF Energy is one of the UK's largest generators and suppliers of electricity, which they source from a variety of methods, including wind. EDF Energy is also one of the big six energy suppliers.

Customer rating:

npower supplies gas and electricity to around 3.1 million customers, npower generates around 10% of the electricity in the UK. As a big six supplier, they also offer boiler cover and boiler replacement services.

Customer rating:

ScottishPower provides gas and electricity to over 5.6 million domestic customers in the UK and maintain a large distribution network. A big six gas and electricity supplier, ScottishPower was awarded Large Supplier of the Year in uSwitch's most recent customer satisfaction survey.

Customer rating:

SSE (formerly Scottish and Southern Energy) is a big six supplier and the parent company for SSE Atlantic, SSE Scottish Hydro, SSE Southern Electric and SSE SWALEC. SSE supply to more than 10 million energy customers.

Customer rating:

Large Supplier of the Year

Bristol Energy aims to put social conscience at the heart of everything it does by reinvesting profits into fighting fuel poverty and renewables.

Customer rating:

ENGIE broke into the domestic UK energy market in 2017, though with a global customer base of 16 million households already under its belt. Based in France, ENGIE is the second-largest gas transporter in the EU.

Customer rating:

Shell Energy is the new name of the energy supplier formerly known as First Utility. The rebranding of First Utility came in early 2019 following Shell’s acquisition of the supplier in 2018.

Customer rating:

Flow is a national supplier of gas and electricity based in Suffolk. It offers 100% renewable electricity plans.

Customer rating:

Good Energy is a green energy supplier, sourcing its electricity from renewables like sun, wind and water.

Customer rating:

Lumo Energy is the app-only energy supplier that aims to offer every household they supply with a smart meter within six months.

Customer rating:

No rating *

Green Energy UK sources its energy from UK-only renewable sources, excluding nuclear power. The supplier's 100% renewable tariff utilising sources including hydro, solar, wind and organic waste material.

Customer rating:

No rating *

Green Network Energy was established in 2003 in Italy, and has arrived in the UK to bring "an Italian touch" to the British energy market by treating its customers like family.

Customer rating:

Green Star Energy is a gas and electricity supplier offering a green option for those looking to do their part for the environment, as well as conservation tips.

Customer rating:

No rating *

iSupply is a gas and electricity supplier based in Bournemouth and backed by Vattenfall, one of Europe's largest energy retailers.

Customer rating:

Octopus Energy is the energy supplier focussed on long-term renewable energy for the UK. Entering the market in just 2016, the supplier earned Supplier of the Year in uSwitch's 2018 independent customer survey.

Customer rating:

OVO Energy is one of the UK's largest independent energy suppliers, offering plans that are 33% renewable electricity as standard.

Customer rating:

Supplier of the Year

PFP Energy, formerly Places for People, aims to offer easy to understand bills.

Customer rating:

No rating *

Co-op Energy is part of the Midcounties Co-operative, and although founded by a regional co-operative, Co-op Energy is a national gas and electricity supplier, covering the whole of England, Wales and Scotland.

Customer rating:

To view all 2019 customer ratings, visit our dedicated energy customer service page.

uSwitch 2019 customer ratings are based on an independent YouGov survey that was conducted between 6 November and 27 November 2018. A total of 17,159 UK energy customers were asked to rate their energy supplier on overall satisfaction, transfer process, value for money, customer service and how likely they were to recommend. We equally weighted those five scores across suppliers with at least 50 responses to create an average supplier rating for each.

* This supplier had fewer than 50 responses in our independent YouGov survey, which is not enough data with which to provide a customer service rating.

Energy switching guides

Guides to comparing gas and electricity prices

Think you might be paying too much for your gas and electricity? You’re not alone. Millions of households are struggling with their energy costs. The good news is, uSwitch can help you compare energy suppliers to find a better deal on your gas and electricity bills.

If you’ve never switched energy before, don’t worry — it’s easier than you think to compare energy prices to ensure you’re on the best energy deal for you. If you need help, our guides should answer your switching questions:

Quickly compare your energy and save up to £447*

  • * Save up to £447 on your energy bills: Between 1 Jul 2018 and 31 Dec 2018, at least 10% of people who switched energy supplier for both gas & electricity with uSwitch.com saved £447 or more.