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Use Cheap Energy Club to compare energy deals.
You'll get a unique bespoke prediction of what you'd pay if you stay on the Price Cap.
Right now, it's only optimised for dual-fuel monthly Direct Debit price-capped users.
Should I fix my energy or stay on the Price Cap? Full help in 'Should you fix?'
Need help switching? Use our How to switch your energy guide.
Struggling to pay your energy bills? See what help is available.
On a price-capped tariff? See how much you'll pay from July. Use our Price Cap Calculator.
Average annual energy bills will rise by 6% on 1 April for those on standard price-capped tariffs (most households).
It's predicted the Price Cap will fall in July. After that, it's crystal-ball gazing, so regularly check our guide for the latest predictions.
Since 2019, energy regulator Ofgem has capped the amount energy suppliers can charge for each unit of energy and the daily standing charge – but only for customers on standard and default tariffs (which most households are on).
Remember that it's the rates that are capped, so use more and you pay more.
Switching is easy, it's the same gas, same electricity and same safety. Only the customer service and who bills you changes. Your supply always stays on and no one visits your home unless you want or need smart meters.
To switch suppliers, follow these steps:
1. Enter your details – either directly with the supplier or you can register for our MSE Cheap Energy Club. You'll usually need your address, current energy supplier and usage, how you pay and whether you want to compare dual-fuel, gas or electricity-only tariffs.
2. Consider your options – make sure you compare all tariffs on the market to get the best deal and remember to factor in things like exit fees, tariff length and type.
3. Switch! (Or not) – if you've found a better deal, you can switch online or over the phone. The new supplier will handle the whole process so there's no need to tell your old supplier. Though remember to take a meter reading just before your switch completes.
Selecting a tariff can be confusing as there are a number to choose from that can be advantageous for different households. You can choose from...
Standard variable tariff – this is what most households are on and the rates you pay are set by Ofgem's Price Cap.
Fixed rate tariff – this offers a fixed price for each unit of energy and fixed standing charges for a certain length of time, so it protects you from rising prices, but you don't benefit when prices are falling.
Prepayment energy tariff – this means you pay for what you use and can be topped up online, over the phone or at local shops.
Economy 7 tariffs – this will take two readings, one for night time (off peak) usage, which is cheaper, and one for usage in the day (peak), which is more expensive. This helps encourage more night time usage, which is ideal if you have storage heaters.
There are loads of ways you can reduce your carbon footprint and save on your energy bills:
Could you save with solar panels? See Solar panels – are they worth it? You can also store electricity on a solar battery - but they're not cheap. See Is solar battery storage worth it?
Looking for a new car? Consider an electric vehicle and pair it with an EV tariff.
Boiler reaching the end of its life? A heat pump is a low carbon alternative – you can get a £7,500 grant to help with the cost.
Want a green energy tariff? See Cheap Energy Club or read our Green energy guide for full info.
Extra home insulation can reduce your carbon footprint and your energy bills. See if you can get it free through the Great British Insulation Scheme.
The Energy Price Cap rose by 6% on 1 April, leaving many struggling to pay their bills, so cutting energy use is a key way to save. Here are some quick-fire tips on how to save energy and cut your costs:
Turn your thermostat down by one degree and save £90/year.
Try and turn your devices off standby and you could save up to £45/year.
Wash clothes on a cooler setting and save £24/year.
Martin Lewis: "From 1 April, the vast majority of homes in England, Scotland & Wales will see costs jump 6.4%. This follows 1% rise in January and 10% last October. Yet, in reality, as the daily standing charge is dropping, some lower users (below £100 a month) will see only small rises, but those who use a lot (above £200 a month) will likely see 7% to 10% increases.
The cheapest year-long standalone fixes right now are about 13% LESS than the current Cap, so if you get a good fix now you lock in at a cheaper rate for a year, get price certainty, save instantly.
Your cheapest fix depends on where you live and how much you use, so do a comparison (the MoneySavingExpert Cheap Energy Club is whole-of-market by default)."
Below we've featured some fantastic success from MSE users who've used these guides to save money on their energy. If you've found success using our tools or guides, let us know via email.
"I phoned Octopus this morning and switched to a deal that is saving over £50 monthly! Shows it's really worth taking the plunge and shopping around."
"Through MSE Cheap Energy Club, I switched energy provider to EDF, and felt very pleased with myself as the process was very straightforward."
"Got quoted £87/month to fix with E.on for a year. British Gas wanted £178 based off the same usage figures. No-brainer to switch."
Traditionally, paying by monthly Direct Debit used to be the cheapest way to pay for your energy, but since April 2024, a typical prepayment bill will be about 3% cheaper for those on standard price-capped tariffs.
So if you're on the Cap, moving to prepayment will see a saving. Yet before you jump to it, a word of caution... there are rarely any prepay deals. All the big money and discounts are thrown out to win new Direct Debit customers. So for many, Direct Debit will stay by far the overall cheapest for people who switch, but for those who don't, it'll be prepay.
See our Energy Direct Debit and Prepay energy guides for more info.
If you pay for your gas and electricity together, you'll likely be on a dual-fuel tariff. The benefit of doing this is that you will only have to pay one energy provider, meaning half the admin work.
It can also be cheaper as some energy suppliers often give discounts to those who get their gas and electricity together, but that is not always the case, so it's always best to compare deals. You can do this using our Cheap Energy Club tool.
When you owe your supplier money, it can sometimes block any attempts to switch away from it. But you can switch if the debt you owe is less than 28 days old, as it'll just be added on to your final bill. For any debts older than 28 days, you'll usually have to pay this off before you switch.
If you're in debt or struggling with your bills, see our full Energy help guide.
No. It's the same gas, same electricity and same safety. Only the customer service and who bills you changes. Your supply always stays on and no one visits your home unless you want or need smart meters.
The right tariff for you depends on your usage, circumstances and preferences. For full info on whether you should consider a fixed deal, see our Should you fix? guide, or see full info on the alternatives to fixing.
