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Is it easy to change gas, electricity or dual-fuel with uSwitch?
uSwitch can help you find the best energy prices in your area — just follow these simple steps to compare gas and electricity:
Enter your postcode
Tell us how much energy you use, and who supplies it
We'll show you the cheapest energy deals in your area
Choose the plan that suits you
Sit back, you've switched! We'll take care of the rest
What is uSwitch?
uSwitch is a free, independent price comparison service that helps consumers compare gas and compare electricity prices and switch energy supplier to save money.
Will my gas or electricity supply get cut-off during switching?
No. You'll still be receiving your energy through the same pipes and cables so there won't be any an interruption to your electricity or gas supply, or any need to dig up the road. Only the company that provides your gas bills or electricity bills will change. Or, if you compare gas and electricity, your dual fuel bills will change.
How do I compare gas and compare electricity prices?
Start by entering your postcode on our site and follow the instructions on-screen to compare energy prices, or just gas or electricity. We'll provide you with a list of suppliers and how much you could save.
But I just want to compare cheap electricity prices or cheap gas prices.
There's no one cheap provider for everyone. We will help you find the best energy deals in your area, but we need your basic information to provide an accurate energy comparison.
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 & electricity supplier. This will outline what you've agreed to, and tell you what happens next. There won't be any interruption in your gas and electricity supply.
What do I need to get started?
Your postcode and your latest gas and electricity bill. Having your latest energy bill will help you give us accurate information about your gas and electricity usage.
Don't worry if you don't have one handy though – we can work out your gas and electricity usage by asking a few extra questions.
Can I trust uSwitch?
Yes, we're the best at comparing energy prices, but don't just take our word for it. Since 2006 uSwitch has been fully accredited by the Ofgem Confidence Code. With many energy comparison sites to choose from, uSwitch has been one of the longest standing signatories to the Ofgem code, and a primary contributor to achieving gas and electricity pricing transparency.
How does uSwitch make money?
uSwitch has commercial arrangements in place with some suppliers across all our services, including energy. We charge suppliers a fee when we switch customers to them, which means we can provide consumers with a free service.
Find out more
Will electricity prices rise in 2018?
It is very likely that some of the energy providers will raise their prices in 2018. Electricity prices did rise in 2017 and there is little to suggest that this trend won't continue into 2018. Comparing gas and electricity prices is always a good idea to make sure you're on the best possible deal.
Energy regulator Ofgem says they are working to help create conditions that make the market more competitive, and therefore encourage suppliers to lower their prices, but often loyalty doesn't pay with most energy suppliers, so it's a good idea to switch energy.
Where are my electricity meters?
Depending on the design of your home, your electricity meter could be in a few different places. For some houses, the electricity meter might be found in a cupboard under the stairs or in a compartment in a laundry room, for example. In some cases it will be found on the side or back of the house, outside.
If you live in an apartment building, then the electricity meter might be found down the hallway inside your building, in its own locked cupboard. The location of an electricity meter varies from home to home, but if you do a little searching around, you will find it.
Taking an electricity meter reading will vary depending on what kind of meter you have at home, as each one displays the information differently. There are five main types of electric meters:
Standard
Digital
Dial
Economy 7
Prepayment
For a standard electricity meter (the most common), simply take a reading of the five black numbers from left to right - and if, present, ignore reading any of the red numbers. A basic electric meter reading can be displayed on a standard, digital or dial.
Simple things like switching your light bulbs to energy saving bulbs can save you money in the long term. Getting a smart meter can also help you more accurately read how much electricity you are using in your home. It's also a good idea to compare energy prices to see if you can switch to a cheaper deal.
Why is my electricity bill so high?
Your electricity bill could be high for a number of reasons:
It's based on an estimated reading of your meter
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. If you don't know how take your own meter readings, read our guide.
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, which is usually much more expensive. Sometimes this new plan is another fixed rate deal, but that doesn't mean you're locked into it and you are free to switch to a new cheaper deal.
You're using more energy
It could be that you're simply using more energy at home. Consider getting a smart meter to monitor your energy usage better. You can see how your daily behaviour influences your energy costs, and figure out a way to reduce your energy usage through lifestyle changes.
Price rises are often blamed on rising wholesale costs, so the first place to look when predicting a gas price rise in 2018 will be the wholesale gas market. If wholesale gas prices are tracking up, it is likely that suppliers will need to raise their own prices to account for this change.
However, gas price rises will only impact you if you are on a variable rate tariff. You can protect yourself now by switching to a fixed rate energy plan.
Are electricity prices regulated?
The market for gas and electricity in the UK is regulated by Ofgem, but the prices are not regulated.
Since 1996, when the energy market was opened up to competition, UK consumers have been able to switch energy suppliers to find a cheaper gas and electricity deal. Previously, Ofgem did set a maximum price for energy; but now Ofgem only regulates the market as a whole — that means creating a regulating schemes to support vulnerable households and more.
Overall, Ofgem states that its intention is to regulate the market in a way that increases competition and encourages more engagement from consumers, therefore causing prices to come down naturally.
Compare and switch all major energy suppliers and more
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 than 17,000 energy customers in 2018 as part of uSwitch's independent YouGov survey.
Compare your energy bills:
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. E.ON 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:
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:
First Utility was founded in 2008, and has become one of the largest independent gas and electricity suppliers.
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.
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:
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:
iSupply is a gas and electricity supplier based in Bournemouth and backed by Vattenfall, one of Europe's largest energy retailers.
Customer rating:
M&S Energy are supplied by SSE, offering gas and electricity plans from the well-known retailer.
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:
PFP Energy, formerly Places for People, aims to offer easy to understand bills.
Sainsbury's Energy is a partnership between Sainsbury's and British Gas, offering gas and electricity through the well-known retail brand.
Customer rating:
Spark Energy is an energy supplier that previously focussed on landlords and lettings, but has since began providing gas and electricity plans for the entire domestic market.
Customer rating:
The Co-operative Energy is part of the Midcounties Co-operative, and although founded by a regional co-operative, Co-operative Energy is a national gas and electricity supplier, covering the whole of England, Wales and Scotland.
uSwitch 2018 customer ratings are based on an independent YouGov survey that was conducted between 7 November and 1 December 2017. A total of 17,313 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.
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 the cheapest electricity deals and cheapest gas deals.
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 assistance, we've got several guides to help answer your questions:
* Save up to £491 on your energy bills: Between 1 April 2017 and 30 September 2017, at least 10% of people who switched energy supplier for both gas & electricity with uSwitch.com saved £491 or more.
† As of 08/09/2017, uSwitch scores 4.5 out of 5 stars based on 8,505 reviews on customer review site Feefo.
