SSE reviews, tariffs and information

SSE 2022 customer rating

Based on SSE reviews, the big six energy supplier was rated two and a half stars out of five for Customer Service by customers in Uswitch's 2022 customer satisfaction survey.

The survey, run by independent organisation YouGov and commissioned by Uswitch, included more than 16,000 respondents from the UK and is the largest of its kind.

SSE reviews were collected in five categories from customers on SSE tariffs.

About SSE energy

Along with a range of SSE tariffs, the supplier formerly offered its exclusive Reward programme, which gives registered customers the opportunity to purchase tickets to its arenas 48 hours in advance of general sale. Eligible SSE arenas are located in Belfast, Wembley and Glasgow. However, this has now been renamed OVO Live to reflect OVO's acquisition of SSE - the arenas now bear OVO's name.

The supplier is part of the Energy Switch Guarantee, which promises that customers’ switches will be completed within five days. With SSE tariffs, customers can manage their energy account online, with the ability to view their bills, make payments and submit meter readings to receive a balance instantly.

SSE energy prices and tariffs

As one of the UK’s biggest energy suppliers, SSE tariffs have always spanned a wide range of competitive fixed rate and variable energy deals at various price points available for customers to sign up to. Customers can also have a smart meter installed free of charge so they can better monitor their energy usage.

For a fuller level of coverage, some of SSE’s energy tariffs enable customers to sign up to broadband along with their energy, as well as securing heating breakdown cover.

Additionally, if customers opt to pay by Direct Debit or standing order, they’ll receive a discount of £40 per fuel per year as opposed to paying via different methods.

How SSE prices have changed in 2022

All energy suppliers operating in the UK, including SSE, are subject to Ofgem's energy price cap. This cap sets the maximum rates suppliers can charge on their standard variable or default tariffs.

SSE changed its standard variable tariff to the level of £1,969.71 when wholesale energy prices increased and Ofgem raised the price cap level to a record £1,971 in February 2022. This came into effect in April 2022.

In August 2021, Ofgem's price cap level was increased to £1,277 per year, its highest ever point. SSE therefore increased the price of its standard variable tariff to £1,276 to come into effect on 1 October 2021.

The table below shows recent changes to SSE prices, alongside changes by the rest of the big six energy suppliers:

Previous changes to SSE prices

In February 2021, Ofgem announced it would be increasing the level of the price cap to £1,138 per year. In reaction to this, suppliers including SSE raised the price of their standard variable tariffs by 9% - meaning customers on these tariffs will see an average price rise of £96 when the change comes into effect on 1 April 2021.

In September 2020, SSE was the last of the big six energy providers to announce a price drop for standard variable tariffs in line with a reduction in the energy price cap. From October 2020, SSE customers on standard variable tariffs saw an average 7% price reduction, equivalent to a price drop of around £83.

In February 2020, SSE prices dropped by £17 for standard variable tariff customers. This was once again in line with the new energy price cap level, which had been revised by Ofgem. This represented a 1% decrease, effective from 1 April 2020.

In August 2019, SSE reduced the price of its standard variable tariff by £77, again in reaction to a drop in Ofgem's price cap. This 6% average price reduction came into effect on 1 October 2019.

In February 2019, however, SSE had joined the rest of the big six energy suppliers in raising its prices from 1 April 2019 in line with the raising of the energy price cap.

In May 2018, SSE prices rose by 7.9% (total percent increase based on 6.7% average price rise and removal of the £6 per fuel, per year paperless billing discount), effective 11 July 2018.

You can read more about the history of how SSE prices have changed in our guide.

SSE gas and electricity

Customers can choose between dual fuel, gas-only or electricity-only SSE energy tariffs depending on their circumstances and requirements. Different SSE tariffs will be more suitable for customers living in certain areas - there’s no one-size-fits-all tariff that everyone should opt for.

SSE and OVO Group

In January 2020, SSE was acquired by OVO. OVO is a collection of companies driving progress to net zero carbon living through harnessing clean, affordable energy for everyone. Across the group, OVO serves nearly five million customers with intelligent energy technology solutions to decarbonise homes.

Founded in 2009 by Stephen Fitzpatrick, OVO redesigned the energy experience to be fairer, greener and simpler for all. Today, OVO is on a mission through its sustainability strategy, Plan Zero, to tackle the most important issue of our time — the climate crisis. Plan Zero set out the OVO group's commitments to halve customers' total lifestyle carbon emissions and eliminate their household emissions by 2030.

SSE and its subsidiaries

SSE has a number of subsidiaries that operate in different parts of the UK. Below is a rough guide to which subsidiaries operate where.

Is SSE going bust?

The energy market is challenging and unpredictable at the moment and there is a certain level of risk to some suppliers - find out why in our energy market Q&A guide.