How to get the best energy deal

Ofgem's cap on energy prices is set to rise in July 2026, owing to price volatility as a result of the Middle East crisis. 

In April, the price cap fell, knocking around £117 off the annual energy bill of a typical household paying a variable tariff rate. If you use a lot of energy, you'll have saved even more. 

But, energy regulator Ofgem's announcement on 27 May confirmed that the price cap will rise again by an average of £221 per year (or £18 per month) for the typical household from 1 July. 

If you're currently paying variable or out-of-contract rates, it's worth trying to switch to a fixed price tariff to protect yourself from predicted future price increases.

According to energy regulator Ofgem, 21 million UK energy accounts were on fixed energy deals as of May 2026, leaving a whopping 33 million accounts paying for standard variable tariffs (SVTs). Fixing a deal means you will pay the same rates for the duration of your contract and won't be affected by changes to the energy price cap. 

Get the right energy deal

Find a good tariff for you with confidence

Compare deals

Are there any cheap energy deals now?

The crisis in the Middle East means that energy companies are charging higher prices than before the conflict. The prices of their fixed deals are changing frequently.  

There are only two tariffs (from the same provider) that will save you £30 per year compared with the April-June price cap. 

But the price cap will rise on 1 July. We've found 20 tariffs that will save you money compared with the new higher rates. 

So fixing a tariff could help yousave money in the longer term. 

If you fix a deal now and later spot a new tariff that's cheaper, you could switch early. Check for exit fees, as many of the fixed tariffs we've seen recently have exit fees of at least £100. 

If your tariff does have exit fees, but you are in the last 49 days of your contract, then you can't be charged.

You'll need to pay by direct debit to access the cheapest fixed tariffs. Some companies will let you pay when you receive a bill, but they typically charge higher rates as a result.

Use our free, independent energy comparison service to compare gas and electricity prices and find the best provider for you.

The cheapest currently available fixed energy deals

We've listed five of the cheapest tariffs for households using a typical medium amount of gas and electricity, paying by direct debit. You can switch to these whether you're a new or existing customer. 

For comparison, we've also listed the equivalent cost of a current price-capped variable tariff at the top of the table.

We've also shown prices for low and high use households to give you an idea of how costs vary.

Bear in mind that the price cap will rise in July, by around 13%, to £1,862 for a typical household. At that point, the tariffs below will save you more.

This table was last updated on 16 June 2026. 

Use our free, independent energy comparison service to compare gas and electricity prices and find the best provider for you.

Should I fix my energy prices this summer?

Energy costs are less noticeable when the days are longer, warmer and brighter so you're using less gas and electricity.

But the price cap is rising by around 13% on 1 July, increasing the bills of everyone on a variable, or out-of-contract, tariff. The rise is predominantly on gas prices, but electricity prices are increasing too.

It's expected to rise again in October, according to energy experts at Cornwall Insight. 

If you're on a variable tariff, or your fixed tariff ends over the summer, you're likely to see a big rise in your bill in autumn when you turn on the heating.  

So it's worth fixing a tariff over the summer to shield you from any further increases this winter. 

The choice of fixed tariff is more limited, and often pricier, than it was before conflict began in the Middle East. However, some choice has returned and most energy companies are offering fixed deals. 

If you fix a deal and later spot a new tariff that's cheaper, you could switch early to make the most of cheaper rates. But check for exit fees.

Here's what to check before you sign up:

• How your payments will compare with your current tariff. Use our free energy compare tool to estimate your current costs and savings.
• What your actual payments would be. For the most accurate estimate, multiply the rates by your energy use over the past year in kWh. Find this in your online account, app or on your latest annual statement.
• Contract length. If it's very long, there's time for energy prices to change a lot.
• Is there an ecit fee to leave early? If so, how much?
• Are there other conditions? Will you need a smart meter, only get paperless bills? Or must you buy other services from the company too?

Good customer service can be invaluable, and we know that some energy companies score poorly with their customers on this measure. 

Before you switch, check whether your chosen firm is among the best energy suppliers.

Should I pick a tracker energy tariff? 

Several energy suppliers offer tracker tariffs which 'track' the price cap, changing price every three months when the price cap is reset. 

Typically they guarantee a set discount on the price cap. 

Some are among the cheapest tariffs at the moment. But remember that they''ll increase in price when the price cap does. Fixed deals stay the same price for the duration of your contract. 

Energy providers offering tracker tariffs include:

• British Gas' Cap Tracker stays £50 below the price cap (for dual fuel) and has a £50 exit fee.
• EDF Energy's Simply Tracker sits £50 below the price cap (for dual fuel). It has discounted daily standing charges (rather than unit rates) which EDF Energy says means customers will see the same benefit regardless of how much energy they use. There's a £50 exit fee.
• E.on Next's Next Pledge Tracker stays £50 below the price cap (with dual fuel) and has a £50 exit fee.
• Outfox Energy's 12 month tracker tariff offers 5% minimum discount on price capped rates and has a £100 exit fee.
• Scottish Power's cap tracker tariff will always be £7.50 (inc. VAT) cheaper per year per fuel than its standard tariff. There are no exit fees.
• So Energy's So Green Tracker saves £50 on the price cap (for dual fuel) and has a £00 exit fee. You need a smart meter to sign up.

Other types of tariffs you might consider include:

• Rewards tariffs such as Sainsbury's Energy's Fix & Reward tariff where customers earn Nectar points of Octopus Energy's Octoplus rewards programme for customers with smart meters.
• Time-of-use tariffs or smart tariffs with peak and off-peak rates. These are worth considering if you can use much of yoru electricity outside of the weekday 4-7pm peak. You'll need a smart meter for these.
• Specialist tariffs for households with heat pumps, solar pv and batteries or electric vehicles.
• Renewable energy tariffs. Check our comparison of green energy suppliers to find which one is best for you.

Find out more about types of energy tariff and time-of-use tariffs.

Price comparison websites

Price comparison websites display tariffs in price order so you can compare potential savings against your current deal.

They don’t have to show every available tariff on the market, so if you don’t venture beyond one comparison site's initial recommendations, you might miss out on the cheapest tariffs.

When you use a comparison site, remember that:

• Some tariffs are exclusive to that site.
• Some tariffs are only available directly from the supplier.
• Some price comparison websites show a limited selection of tariffs upfront, such as only those it can switch you to directly, or just available deals from the biggest companies. 

Check what the site says about which deals it displays automatically. Changing the filters might let you see a wider range of deals than is initially displayed.  

Bear in mind that you'll need to contact the supplier directly if you pick a deal that the price comparison site can't switch you to.

Fixed and variable energy tariffs: which is best for me?

Energy deals come in two basic types: fixed or variable. Which one would suit you better will depend on how much certainty you want over the price you pay.

• Variable tariffs change price every time your supplier changes its rates, usually in line with the price cap. They have no exit fees so you can leave when you like.
• Fixed tariffs usually set the daily standing charge and rates you pay for each unit of gas and electricity for a certain period (e.g. a year). You won't be affected if your energy copmany raises or lowers its prices. Often they have exit fees, payable if you want to leave before the end of your contract. 

 If you've been with your supplier for a while, or didn’t switch after your fixed deal ended, it's very likely that you're on its standard, variable or default tariff.

Find out more about types of energy tariff and what is the energy price cap?

What would your bills be on a variable tariff?

To know whether a fixed deal will save you money, first you need to know how much you'll pay over a year on your current tariff. 

Most households are currently on a variable, price-capped tariff. You'll be on a variable tariff (sometimes called default or flexible) if you've not fixed a deal with your supplier recently. 

These change price every three months when energy regulator Ofgem resets the price cap. 

That makes it tricky to estimate what you'll expect to pay over the next year. 

Online price comparison services (including our energy comparison tool) can't take future price predictions into account. They assume that you will pay the current price-capped rates for the next year. 

So you should keep them in mind when considering how much you might pay in the next 12 months. Most experts expect variable (price-capped) tariff rates to remain high for the foreseeable future, but this isn't guaranteed. 

You can use our free energy comparison tool to work out how much you can expect to pay for a fixed tariff. 

When you compare, remember to:

• Choose the correct name for your tariff
• Input the exact amount of electricity and gas you use (in kWh) per year to get the most accurate estimate of your current spend.

Find out how to switch energy supplier and tariff

time of use tariffs

Energy auto-switching services

Automatic switching services do more of the legwork for you than price comparison websites. 

They continuously compare and, with your permission, switch you to deals they calculate to be the best (based on information you provide) to keep you on a good rate.

If you want a better energy deal with minimal effort, an auto-switching service could be worth a try. But be aware that there are few tariffs that will save you much at the moment.

Before using an auto-switching service, check:

• Terms and conditions. These should tell you how it picks which tariffs to switch you to.
• Which energy suppliers it works with. Some services don't compare every deal available. If owned by a price comparison website, for example, they may only display deals from companies they have financial agreements with.
• Policies on switching you to companies with a poor reputation for customer service. Some auto-switching services won’t switch customers to suppliers they don’t feel are up to scratch. This can help you avoid some poorly performing companies, but means you might save less than you would with a price comparison website. 
• Whether it’s a free or paid-for service. Services that charge subscription fees typically cover the whole market, so may include cheaper deals than those tied to specific suppliers. But you'll need to balance this against how much the fees could eat into your savings. 

Switching directly with an energy company

Energy companies aren't allowed to sell cheaper deals to new customers than existing ones until at least March 2027. 

Check that you're on the cheapest option with your current supplier, as well as comparing offerings from other companies.

You can usually get a quote from a new energy provider via its website by entering your postcode and some information about your energy use. If you're happy with the quote, you can then follow through with the switch online or over the phone.

Find out how to switch energy supplier.

Refer-a-friend and other switching incentives

Suppliers sometimes offer financial rewards for switching to them, including via refer-a-friend schemes that reward both the existing and new customer. 

If you’re invited to switch via one of these, check the following:

• The price of the tariff you’ll be signing up to – is it the supplier’s cheapest deal?
• How the price compares with other deals on the market once the incentive payment is factored in.
• Whether there are other conditions attached to the switching incentive – for example, being a customer for a certain period or getting a smart meter – and whether you're happy with these.
• Whether the supplier charges exit fees if you want to leave.
• How good the supplier’s customer service is. See the best energy companies.

Should I bundle gas and electricity with broadband or boiler cover?

The following firms offer boiler cover, broadband or other services as well as energy:

• British Gas
• Ovo Energy
• Scottish Power (via Domestic and General)
• Utility Warehouse

If you’re tempted to buy more than gas and electricity from your energy company, first check how much it would cost to buy the equivalent products from separate firms.

Find out whether you need boiler cover

Look out for energy exit fees

If you're considering a fixed tariff, check whether you'd have to pay to leave before the end of the contract (for example, if you found a cheaper deal).

We often see exit fees of £100 of more per fuel on a one-year tariff, but don't always let this put you off switching.

• Not all fixed deals have exit fees. If yours doesn't, you'll be protected against rising prices, but if prices go down you can switch at any time at no cost.
• Your supplier can't charge an exit fee if you switch in the last 49 days of your fixed tariff.
• You shouldn't have to pay exit fees if you’re moving home, provided you keep your tariff and just change the address. 
• If you switch tariffs but stay with the same provider, some may waive the exit fee, so it's worth asking.

Pay by direct debit to save money

Paying by monthly direct debit is usually the cheapest way to pay for energy. 

Your supplier will estimate how much gas and electricity you'll use in a year and charge you for a 12th of this each month. 

It usually costs more to pay when you receive your bill – your tariff will be more expensive than a direct debit one. You'll also have to pay more in winter (when you're using central heating) than in summer. 

Prepayment meter customers on price-capped tariffs pay slightly less than direct debit customers. But there's less choice of cheaper fixed tariffs for prepayment customers.

Find out whether a prepayment energy meter is right for you.

For tips on using less energy to bring down your bills, see our guides to 10 ways to save on energy bills and how to insulate your home

How to stop your energy company overcharging

Whether or not you've just switched, try these tips to keep your bills accurate:

• Send meter readings to your supplier at least monthly (if your smart meter isn't already doing this) to make sure you're only charged for the energy you're actually using. Otherwise, you'll get estimated bills.
• Occasionally check your account to make sure your meter readings are getting through. 
• If your energy company raises its prices, send meter readings on the day the rise takes effect. This way, you get the lower price for the maximum period.
• Question direct debit changes if you don't agree. Contact your energy company and ask it to explain how and why it has calculated the change.
• Ask for excess credit back. If you have more than three months' payments in your energy account, consider asking for a refund or to lower your monthly payments.
• Complain if your direct debit payments increase without notice. Energy firms should give you 10 days' warning before taking the new amount. If yours doesn't, complain and ask for compensation. You can also make a claim under the Direct Debit Guarantee.
• Complain if you have been billed incorrectly. Use our letter template to complain to your energy supplier about being overcharged.