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New. Cheapest 1 year fixed energy deals - including from British Gas
The Energy Price Cap is likely to RISE 10% in October, and stay there across winter - but you can FIX at current prices or less right now

Sadly the energy price crisis is far from over. While things have improved, the strong likelihood is we'll be told at the end of August that the Energy Price Cap - which dictates the bills of over 80% of homes - will rise substantially, probably around 10%, on 1 October. 

And it's then predicted to stay around that level in January when the next quarterly change takes place. 

Yet those who switch are likely to be able to forestall these rises by LOCKING IN to a fixed deal now (the speedy thing to do is find your cheapest via a Cheap Energy Club comparison). Let's get into it...

1. Fix what you pay for a year at 1% LOWER than the current Price Cap, and far lower than the predicted Cap from October. With the Price Cap predicted to rise, this looks a strong time to fix. Here are today's cheapest deals - though your cheapest depends on where you live, how you pay, and how much you use, which is why it's best to go via our comparison.

Update: Cheap Energy Club now has bespoke help for those on both dual-fuel and fixed tariffs. We initially launched our comparison at speed and only had bespoke help for those on dual-fuel monthly Direct Debit price-capped tariffs. We've been hard at work since and now have help for those on fixes too.

If you're in either camp, you can now see our guidance in the Club on how predicted changes in the Price Cap will affect what you pay over the next year and whether a fix might be right for you.

On single-fuel, Eco 7, prepay or pay by quarterly cash or cheque? We're still working on adding bespoke help to the tool for you.

2. There aren't just fixes - you can get a tracker tariff too, including lower standing charges, and specialist deals. There are a number of options tough to display via the traditional comparison site model (we're trying to work through how to get it right for the future as this becomes more common) and even to fit into a table, so let us walk you through the main ones...

• There are two tracker tariffs - basically discounted Price Cap deals - one has lower unit rates, the other lower standing charges. Both EDF and E.on have variable tariffs which track 3% below the Price Cap for 12 months (so when the Cap rises, so will these tariffs) - but they work slightly differently to each other: 
  
  - E.on Next Pledge. Here, it's the unit rates that are discounted, so this tends to be better if you're a higher user (as usage would make up a higher proportion of your bill over the standing charges). You'll need to pay by monthly Direct Debit, and either have or apply for a smart meter. Full info: E.on Next Pledge. 
  
  - EDF Ensure*. With this tariff, the standing charges are discounted, so it tends to be better for lower users (where the standing charges are a larger proportion of your annual bill). It's available to Direct Debit, on receipt of a bill or smart prepay customers who have (or apply for) a smart meter, and there are £50 per fuel exit fees. Full info: EDF Ensure. 
   
• Octopus Tracker & Agile (for its existing customers) can be substantially cheaper. Existing Octopus customers can switch to its Tracker tariff, where rates change daily based on wholesale costs, so when they're low, it's cheap. It's been a big winner; 31% cheaper than the Price Cap on average over the last year, but of course you must be aware there's a risk it can go the other way... if wholesale rates rise, it could be substantially more expensive.
  
  Also, its electricity-only Agile tariff's rates change half-hourly, based on wholesale prices - good for those who can shift their usage nimbly to take advantage of super-cheap times.
   
  Not with Octopus? To get these, you could first try switching to the Octopus Price Cap tariff, then, once in, switching to one of these (if they're still available).
  
  
• Got an EV? Consider a dedicated tariff. Several suppliers have launched specific two-rate tariffs that offer cheaper electricity overnight for charging your electric vehicle (EV). If the cost of charging your car makes up a decent proportion of your electricity usage (or you can shift other usage to these hours), these can work well. See what's available in our EV tariffs guide.
  
  
• Want to fix for longer than a year? There are some tariffs. They're not that cheap. And frankly we can't help you decide. There are simply no assessments of what'll happen to prices at that time, in such a volatile market as we have now. Yet if you really value certainty, it may win out with hindsight. See longer fixes.

3. The predicted Price Cap RISES in detail. If you're in England, Scotland or Wales and aren't on a fixed energy tariff, you, like 80%+ of homes, are likely on your provider's default standard variable tariff, which is 'protected' by the Price Cap. This sets a maximum standing charge and unit rate for each region - though remember this only applies to default standard tariffs, not other tariffs, such as fixes.

As the Price Cap moves mostly based on a published algorithm, which itself is based on a set of (year ahead-ish) wholesale costs (which the energy retailers pay), they're predictable. We're nearly at the end of the assessment period for the October Price Cap (it runs 17 May to 16 Aug), so predictions now should be pretty solid.

Below are the predictions from analysts Cornwall Insight from a few weeks ago, and - over the next year - they are within 1%-ish of predictions that came out this week from EDF's price forecasting service. So as both seem to be broadly in sync, they're likely pretty close.

Cornwall Insight doesn't currently have any predictions beyond next March, though EDF is suggesting that the Price Cap will stay roughly flat after October's drop and that'll remain the case well into next year.

Of course, this isn't set in stone - the predictions can significantly change over time. But at the moment, it looks like anyone who sticks on the Price Cap will pay about 9% more over the next year than they do now.

Of course, we don't know if a cheaper fix will launch, but certainly compared to the prediction these fixes look good value now.

4. Can you cut your bills by cutting your energy usage? Obviously, cutting use cuts bills - and hopefully there are cuts you can make to improve efficiency that don't affect your lifestyle too much. Start with energy saving tips, then add in the Energy mythbusting guide for less clear-cut issues.

5. What to do if you're struggling to pay. If you're struggling, it's always worth talking to your energy firm. Be polite and straight with it, and make sure you explain if you're vulnerable. There can be hardship & debt grants from energy suppliers for some on the lowest incomes. For far more guidance, see our full What to do if you're struggling to pay energy bills guide.