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The average UK household could save £300+/year by switching energy supplier. It takes 60 seconds to check.
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Three steps to cheaper home energy
Could you be paying less for gas and electricity?
Why you could be overpaying
Stay on the default tariff
Most households have never switched or haven't switched recently — and pay more than they need to as a result.
Typical annual saving
Households that compare and switch save hundreds of pounds per year on average.
To see your options
Click compare and see what tariffs are available. No phone calls, no pressure.
Cost to compare
Our comparison is completely free. We're paid by the supplier — there's no charge to you.
Got a business? You could save even more.
Business energy contracts typically offer bigger savings than domestic tariffs. Compare business gas and electricity to see how much you could cut your overheads.
Compare Business Energy →Common questions about home energy
Yes, completely free. We earn a commission from the supplier if you switch — there's no charge to you and no obligation to switch.
No. Your gas and electricity supply continues without interruption. Only the company billing you changes. The switch typically takes 2–3 weeks.
It helps, but it's not essential. You can still compare tariffs with just your postcode. Having a recent bill to hand will give you the most accurate comparison.
SaveCompare is an independent UK-based energy comparison service established in 2008. We don't supply energy — we just help you find the best deal.
UK home energy in 2026: how switching actually works
The UK home energy switching market collapsed in late 2021 when wholesale gas spiked and the bulk of fixed-tariff offers were withdrawn. For two and a half years from then, switching saved most households nothing — the Ofgem default tariff cap was lower than any fixed deal on offer, and the few sub-cap fixes that did exist usually came with sharp early-exit fees or short terms. From early 2024 the market re-opened, but it works differently to the pre-2021 version.
The Ofgem default tariff cap, in plain English
The cap sets a maximum unit rate and standing charge that an energy supplier can charge a household on a default (variable) tariff. Ofgem updates the cap quarterly. For a typical dual-fuel household paying by direct debit, the cap level moved through 2024-2025 between roughly £1,690 and £1,928 per year, depending on the quarter. The cap is a maximum, not a target; suppliers can charge less, but in practice almost all default tariffs sit at or close to the cap because the cap reflects suppliers' wholesale costs.
Two things to know about the cap. First: it applies only to standard variable (default) tariffs. Fixed-rate deals are not capped — they can be higher or lower than the cap. Second: it's a national average. The actual cap level depends on your region (London, North West, Eastern, etc.) and your payment method, so the headline cap figure quoted in the news is an approximation, not the figure on your bill.
Fixed-rate deals: when they save money, when they don't
A fixed-rate deal locks the unit rate and standing charge for the contract term, usually 12 or 24 months. In a falling-price environment, the cap drops below the fix and the fixed deal becomes the more expensive option. In a rising-price environment, the cap rises above the fix and the household saves. Which way prices will move is the question fixed deals exist to answer, and nobody — including Ofgem — calls it reliably in advance.
The practical rule we suggest in our energy guides is: a fix that's 5-7% below the current cap, with a low early-exit fee (under £100 per fuel), is usually worth taking. Above 7% below, double-check the exit fee — the saving might be paid back if prices fall further. Below 5%, the saving rarely justifies giving up the cap protection if the cap drops.
How the switch itself works
Energy switching since 2024 is a 14-day process by default under Ofgem's Faster Switching scheme. The new supplier organises the switch, the old supplier produces a final bill, and the household sees no interruption to supply. Smart meter data transfers automatically where the meter is in DCC second-generation operation; older meters may need a manual read. If a switch goes wrong, the Energy Ombudsman handles complaints free of charge after the supplier's internal complaints process has been exhausted (typically 8 weeks).
Tariffs you compare on this site come from Ofgem's published rate cards and the suppliers' direct-to-consumer offers. We list both fixed-term and standard variable options, and we flag where a deal includes additional charges (paper billing, prepayment metering, dual-fuel discount tied to direct debit). The full list of energy data sources is on the About page methodology.
Common UK home energy switching questions
Will switching cost me anything? No. There's no charge to switch supplier, no exit fee on a standard variable tariff, and no break in supply. If you're on a fixed-rate deal, there may be an early-exit fee — usually £25-£100 per fuel — if you switch before the contract end date. Suppliers must show this on the bill and on the welcome letter.
How long does the switch take? Five working days under Ofgem's Faster Switching scheme, plus the 14-day cooling-off period during which you can cancel. So if you switch on a Monday, the new supplier starts billing you the following Monday and you can change your mind at any point in those 14 days without consequence.
What if the supplier I switch to goes bust? Your supply doesn't stop. Ofgem's Supplier of Last Resort process moves you to a different supplier automatically; your credit balance (if any) is protected. The 2021-2022 supplier failures — Bulb, Avro, Pure Planet and others — all went through this process, and consumers were transferred without supply interruption.