Cheap Gas & Electricity

Now's a great time to switch energy tariff - prices are on the rise

All of the big suppliers have now confirmed prices hikes. Here's what each is doing...

• British Gas increased its standard variable tariff by 5.5% on Tuesday 29 May - a £60/year hike to £1,161/yr for a typical dual-fuel household.
• EDF raised its prices by 1.4% on Thursday 7 June. Its standard dual-fuel prices increased by £16/year to a typical £1,158/year.
• Scottish Power hiked its standard tariff by 5.5% on Friday 1 June. Typical dual-fuel households saw bills rise by £64, from £1,147/year to £1,211/year.
• Npower is hiking its standard variable tariff by 5.5% from Sunday 17 June. Typical dual-fuel bills are set to rise by £64 from £1,166/year to £1,230/year.
• SSE is raising its prices by 7.8% - including a 6.7% hike to its rates plus the removal of a £6 per fuel annual discount - from Wednesday 11 July. Its standard tariff is set to rise from £1,109/year to £1,196/year based on typical use - an £87/year increase.
• E.on is hiking its standard prices by 4.8% from Thursday 16 August. Typical dual-fuel bills are set to rise by £55/year, from £1,153/year to £1,208/year. E.on also scrapped a 20/year dual-fuel and £5/year (per fuel) paperless billing discounts on Thursday 19 April.

If you're on a standard tariff with any of these companies it's likely you're massively overpaying - so do a comparison now to see if you can switch and save

Compare to find YOUR cheapest price (plus possible cashback)

The winner depends on where you live and your usage, so use our Cheap Energy Club top picks comparison to find YOUR exact winner (plus £25 switchers dual-fuel cashback) – it only take five minutes. Here's an example of savings...

As well as the video, we've also answered the most common switching questions posted on Twitter, Facebook and our forum. See the answers below.

Comparing shows a fix'll cost me more – should I still do it?

If the comparison shows a fix costs more, then this is all about how much you need certainty. If you're an energy tart who regularly switches (the MSE Cheap Energy Club will give you alerts), you could just ride it out. If not, a fix is more likely to be worth it.

I have a prepay meter. Can I switch or fix my energy tariff?

Yes, you can do both, so don't assume you're stuck. However, from 1 April, prepayment tariffs have been capped by regulator Ofgem, limiting what suppliers can charge for gas and electricity – so switching may not save as much.

The cheapest tariff around at the moment is Our Power's Our Fairer Energy tariff which is variable and, for someone with typical bills, costs £982/year – around £100/year cheaper than a standard prepay tariff.

Prepay users should also consider shifting to a billed meter, if your credit score allows. For how to do this cheaply, see the Cheap Prepay guide.

Should I take a short, cheaper fix, or fix long? I can't decide

First, look at how much you'd save with each fix. Then ask yourself: "Am I the type of person who'll be an energy tart?" In other words, will you keep on top of this and remember to switch at the end of each deal?

If yes, then a shorter fix – which will generally be cheaper – is worth considering (our Cheap Energy Club will alert you when to switch again). Be aware though that if energy prices rise over the next few years, you could end up switching to a pricier deal when your short fix ends.

The less likely you are to tart, the more you should consider a long fix. You may not get quite such a good rate, but it'll stay relatively cheap, even if you're inactive.

How much did prices rise in 2017?

All big six suppliers hiked their standard prices last year. Here's what each did....

Supplier	Dual fuel price rise (effective date)	Increase on typical dual-fuel bill
British Gas	7.3% (15 Sep 2017)	£76
EDF (1)	7.2% (21 Jun 2017)	£78
E.on	8.8% (26 Apr 2017)	£97
Npower	9.8% (16 Mar 2017)	£110
Scottish Power	7.8% (31 Mar 2017)	£86
SSE	6.9% (28 Apr 2017)	£61
(1) EDF also increased standard dual-fuel prices by 1.2% on 1 March 2017.

And with prices rising again, if you're on a standard tariff with any of these suppliers it's likely you're massively overpaying – so act fast and lock in to a cheap deal now.

Switching questions, including 'I'm in debt, can I switch?' and 'Is it a big hassle?'

Q: Isn't switching a big hassle?

A: No. Switch, and you keep the same gas, electricity and pipes. Only service and, crucially, cost changes. Yet admittedly it can take up to two months to switch across.

All you need to do is take five minutes to do a comparison, find your cheapest deal and fill in your details. There can be hitches but switching should be simple for most.

Q: I'm in debt to my supplier, can I switch?

A: If you're on prepay, you can if the debt's £500 per fuel or less. If you're on a credit meter, it varies by supplier and payment type. British Gas and Scottish Power tell us you need to pay off your debt before switching away. The other top six firms may let you switch, then pay it off.

If you're in credit when you switch, your old provider needs to give you the cash.

Q: Suppliers are all the same, so isn't switching pointless?

A: You're right – in many ways they are the same, even though some new smaller suppliers have launched. Yet switching isn't actually about suppliers. Just like one mobile phone firm has many different tariffs, so do energy suppliers.

One supplier can have both the UK's cheapest and most expensive tariff. So the aim's to find your cheapest tariff, regardless of the firm. To show you the impact, and potential waste, someone with typical usage on the cheapest tariff pays on average £820/year. But the same user on a pricey tariff will pay £1,185/year.

Q: How long does it take to switch?

A: Energy suppliers have a cooling-off period of 14 days, which starts from the date you submit your switch, so no action is taken until this period is over. The switching process can take up to four to six weeks to complete, depending on the supplier, although some will now switch you more quickly.

But don't worry, you won't lose your supply during this time. It should be a seamless handover from one provider to the other. All that's really changing is the billing, not the actual gas and electricity that you're being supplied.

Energy suppliers are supposed to keep you updated on your switch (via letter/telephone/email – please keep an eye on your junk/spam folder). If you ever have any queries about your switch, you can always contact your energy supplier for an update.

Q: How long does it take to get confirmation after switching?

A: You usually get a confirmation email from the comparison site within 24 hours (definitely via Cheap Energy Club). After that, you're due a welcome pack. It could take weeks (sometimes they even deny you've done it).

Q: I've switched before. It said I'd save, but my bills weren't lower?

A: While it sounds strange, you may save money by switching, even if your bills go up during a round of price hikes. For example, during price hikes by suppliers, you might switch to a new deal to pay less, but then see the price of your NEW tariff increase slightly.

But if you hadn't switched during the price hikes, your bills would've gone up even more on your OLD tariff. So, while you're paying a bit more, it'll still be less than if you hadn't switched.

Q: I am moving home, can I take my fix with me?

A: If you're moving, some providers will allow you to take the fixed tariff to the new house. You usually have to pay the new region's prices, which may be different. But because you've locked in your rate before prices go up generally, the savings should still outweigh this.

Therefore if you're fixing right now, it's best to compare based on your new postcode (if you know it) as you'll be there longer – and, of course, check the fix is portable.

Q: Should I call my existing provider to fix?

A: No, no, no. This isn't about grabbing any fix. That could leave you locking in at a high cost – it's about locking in on the cheapest fix, which may be with another provider.

Q: Will prices keep rising in the long run?

A: With energy firms' efficiency, green energy and investment obligations, prices are predicted to go up at least 30%-40% over the next five years, unless there's huge political change.

Q: Must energy providers give notice of price rises?

A: Yes, 30 days' notice, so you'll know when it's coming.

Q: Does switching affect my credit rating?

A: Suppliers often carry out credit checks when you apply that show on your credit file. Lenders can see these. Each application can have a minor effect on a future credit score. It's usually not an issue unless you're applying for lots of other credit cards and loans around the same time.

Q: I've just moved house, how can we compare?

A: If you can get an idea of usage figures from the previous homeowners, brilliant. These figures will give you the most accurate comparison.

If not, some comparisons offer a movers' service. Simply answer some basic questions about the house, such as size and appliance use, and it'll tell you the likely cheapest provider.

Until you switch, the energy supplied to the house will come from the supplier the previous owners used.

Q: I'm in the process of switching to a new supplier, but haven't fixed. Is it too late?

A: When you switch supplier, you've got a 14-day cooling-off period. So if you're within this time, do a new comparison looking for a fixed deal and if it's with a different supplier, you can switch again without a problem.

If it's with the same provider or if you've missed the cooling-off period, call the supplier you're due to move to and ask it to switch you to its cheapest fixed tariff (use a comparison to check). Otherwise you'll have to wait until the supply is live before switching again.

Q: I fixed, now prices are up, will I get it?

A: The point of a fix is you're not affected by energy price rises.

If you fixed to cheap fixes that have now been pulled, you should be fine – you'll normally get the prices advertised at the point you applied (whether directly or via a comparison site).

Things can go wrong, though. You could fail a credit check, or maybe you're heavily indebted to your supplier and it tries to block you. If so, you should be told within about two weeks.

Q: I'm already tied in, is it worth asking my current supplier if I can switch to a fixed deal?

A: The only way it can lock you in is with an exit penalty that wipes out any savings you'd make by switching. So first ensure your provider's fix is competitive. If you'd save more than the exit penalty by switching elsewhere, there's no point anyway.

If not, while we've never heard of this happening, it's certainly worth seeing if your current company will waive your exit fee and switch you to its fix – you can always push hard by threatening to go elsewhere if not.

Q: My friend says Utility Warehouse promises to be cheapest?

A: Utility Warehouse/Telecom Plus is a network marketing firm, so its users can be very keen to sell it on. Its 'price promise' excludes online tariffs, which tend to be the cheapest.

As its prices are covered by comparison sites, just like others, to see its price for you, do a comparison (scroll for it, as it usually isn't near top). However, some do like it for getting multi-utility discounts (ie, energy and phone together). The problem is you're normally locked into the energy and phone elements to get the full benefit.

Q: I'm only going to save £10. Is it worth switching?

A: Remember, by fixing you're not just saving now, the aim is to get a guarantee against prices rising. You could also get cashback on top of the tariff saving via the cashback site links.

Q: How do I switch – will the new company contact the old?

A: Yes. There's no need to contact your old provider (unless, perhaps, you are in debt with it and want to discuss how you pay it off).

Q: I've heard some people switch to a cheaper price but have a bigger direct debit?

A: Direct debits are based on an estimate of your usage. Some find they switch to a cheaper tariff, but their direct debit rises.

This is usually because the new firm over-estimates, or the old one under-estimates. If it's too high and means you overpay, you'll get the money back later. If it's a problem, you've a right to ask them to lower it. See Energy Direct Debits.

Q: I'm renting, can landlords dictate which electricity provider I use?

A: If you pay the gas and electricity bill directly (not via the landlord), you can and should compare and switch. Don't stick with the previous tenants' supplier as often it's costly. Always do a meter reading as soon as you move in.

You have a right to do this without your landlord's permission, though it is worth checking your tenancy agreement just in case it's a breach. If it is, communicate with the landlord – nothing changes for them if you switch, so it shouldn't be an issue.

Even if your tenancy agreement says you can't switch, challenge it. Preventing a tenant from changing energy suppliers may be viewed as an unfair term in a tenancy agreement, so talk to Citizens Advice to see if it can help. If you pay your landlord for energy, it's their choice.

Q: I only use electricity – can I switch and fix?

A: Yes, use Cheap Energy Club to find the cheapest electricity prices for your area. Just select 'electricity only' and it will show your top fixes.

Q: Is it true that paying by direct debit is cheapest?

A: Yes, but specifically for monthly direct debits, which can be around £75 cheaper/year. Your bill is then estimated, so make sure you do regular meter readings.

Q: What happens if my energy company goes bust?

A: Most importantly, you won't lose continuity of supply. Under energy regulator Ofgem's safety net rules, a new supplier will be appointed to take over your supply, and you'll likely be moved across to a standard tariff. However, you're free to switch away without exit fees if the price isn't good enough, so make sure you do a comparison.

If your account is in credit when the supplier goes bust, you'll get this back too - the new supplier will pay back any credit balances or add it to your new account to pay for future energy use once it takes over your supply.

Get CONSTANTLY cheap energy with MSE's free Cheap Energy Club

Our Cheap Energy Club is designed to keep you constantly on the cheapest tariff – fighting the fact most cheap deals only last one to two years before their rates rise. It does this by...

1. Finding you the cheapest deal. If you're already on it, great. If not, it'll help you switch. You usually get £25 cashback on top for a dual-fuel switch or £12.50 cashback for switching just gas or electricity.

2. Then constantly monitoring your tariff. Each month, without you doing anything, we do a background comparison to check yours is still cheapest.

3. Alerting you when it's time to switch (again). If you can save money switching either because your rate's changed, or others have, we'll tell you.

We've been swamped with positive feedback, such as:

Got to say thanks. I'll be saving a whopping £800 per year on my dual-fuel bill after using your Cheap Energy Club. Was hoping for £300 so this is amazing (a tad annoyed with myself that I didn't do it sooner!)

Consider myself money-savvy, but just done your energy supplier swap and saved £548 a year.

@MartinSLewis saved me £552/year + £30 cashback – my first switch in 15 years!

We've also added some improvements to Cheap Energy Club, including a filter that lets you search for tariffs by your current supplier or by big name suppliers only.

Cheap Energy Club also let you filter which tariffs will be eligible for the Warm Home Discount. This is a Government discount of £140 you can get during winter – if you qualify. It also shows which tariffs are made of 100% renewable electricity.

And finally, in the past our alert emails went just to the person who registered, but lots of you said you wanted somebody else copied in, so we've added that function too. Do it when you register, or add them to the account details page if you're already a member.

Try it, and let us know what you think at energyclub@moneysavingexpert.com.

Comparison sites don't always show all tariffs by default

It's also possible to get cashback for switching from comparison sites. Bear in mind though that some comparison sites by default only show you tariffs you can switch to via them (ie, where they're paid commission). This filters out some results – Cheap Energy Club shows you ALL those available by default.

If you do use a comparison site always make sure you've selected the option to show all available tariffs to get the full picture before making a decision.

For more help switching energy via comparison sites click here

Here's a summary of how you can switch via the major comparison sites:

Six-bottle case of wine to switch

uSwitch* – only applies to dual-fuel switches

We've blagged MoneySavers six bottles of wine from Naked Wines if you switch both gas and electricity via uSwitch. Use this uSwitch* link and, after your new supply goes live, you'll be emailed a voucher for a case of wine containing six bottles worth at least £60. Please be Drinkaware.

It can take up to four months from the date you switched to get the voucher – you must use the voucher within six months of the date it was sent.

£17 cashback per fuel switched

Energyhelpline* – get £34 for dual fuel

Switch via this specific Energyhelpline* link. You can get £34 for a dual-fuel switch, or £17 for a single gas or electricity switch.

If you switch gas to one supplier and your electricity to another supplier, you get £34. Though if you do two single switches to the same supplier, you'll only get £17.

Energyhelpline pays the cashback 60-120 days after your new supply goes live. The offer is ongoing.

£25 cashback or £12.50 per fuel

MoneySupermarket* – cashback can take up to six months

Go via this MoneySupermarket* link and if it can switch you, it will put £25 in your account. Expect it 8-12 weeks after your supply has gone live, though it can take as long as six months in some cases.

It may be possible to INCREASE the cashback even more

Occasionally, some energy companies pay even more if you switch directly via their websites or through cashback websites. Therefore, for the ultimate finesse, first use the comparison services to find the cheapest, then check the winner's website direct to see if it offers more cashback.

Also check if you can get more going via a cashback website both for the energy provider itself and, on rare occasions, for going to the comparison site – try the Cashback Sites Maximiser.

When is the cashback paid?

Cashback's usually paid automatically 45 to 90 days after you sign up, but remember it's only paid when the comparison service actually administers the switch for you. In some cases it can take as long as six months, and some comparison sites make you put in a claim.

Otherwise it doesn't earn anything, so it can't cut you in. Things can and do sometimes go wrong, so don't count the cash as yours until it's in your pocket.

How do comparison sites work?

The cheapest supplier for you is calculated by a complicated algorithm. It depends on where you live, how much energy you use, and the type of energy you use. Web and phone-based comparison services do this for you.

Just plug in your address and usage (use the kilowatt hours on the bill rather than the cost to improve accuracy) and they tell you which supplier is cheapest. If you don't have a bill or have just moved in, most comparison services can still estimate for you.

How do they earn their money?

Comparison services are paid between £20 and £70 per switch by the energy companies. In other words, they're referral businesses. In itself this isn't actually a problem, as it doesn't add costs to the consumer. Watchdog Citizens Advice has an accreditation system for website (not phone) services, setting minimum standards.

Yet these are commercial beasts, and thus there are differences between them – in functionality, inclusion of niche players and the treatment of initial discounts. There have also been some concerns that one or two tweak results at the edges for their gain.

Overall, it's better to use them than to listen to the energy companies when they shout "we're cheapest".

Why do they only pay cashback via this site?

In the early days of the site, way back in 2004, a comparison service boss asked Martin: "How can we be your top pick?" Flippantly, he replied: "Pay customers some of your cut!" Surprisingly it agreed to a trial, but only for users of this site, so as not to cannibalise its existing custom.

That was the start, and as this site's grown, now with many millions of users a month, they all want a piece of the pie. Hence many now offer cashback.

In the main, it's still only links from this site, or for those who use phone services and quote the deals here. If you go direct, you get exactly the same service but without the cashback. You may be able to get cashback for specific energy providers via cashback websites.

Why do I get different results from comparisons?

It's common to use different comparison sites and get different results. While it can be annoying, not much can be done to standardise it. The main reasons it happens are:

• These sites make a number of assumptions If you haven't entered kilowatt hours, which is the most accurate way, then just giving a past bill can't actually tell the comparison sites your exact usage, so they each make some assumptions to work it out. Slight differences in those assumptions can affect the overall recommendations.

  Even if you do put kilowatt hours in, other assumptions are made, as some sites add in seasonal usage weightings and more slight variances due to how the calculations are done. Of course it's very frustrating, but ultimately it's likely the actual difference in what you pay will be small.

• Check you've selected exactly the same current tariff Annoyingly, when asking which tariff you're currently on, comparison sites often list almost identically named products for each provider – something that should be cracked down on – so make sure when you're picking your current tariff, you get it exactly right.

• Was the difference just in the amount saved? If the tariff you should switch to is identical, but the saving isn't, this is less of a worry – it's far more likely to be about assumptions.

• What about when there are genuinely different answers? That's very annoying and really it shouldn't happen, but occasionally it does. The only way to get PERFECT accuracy is to get a spreadsheet out and do your own comparisons. But unless you're a maths whizz with a lot of time, that's virtually impossible.

  The actual answer here is to remember the differences are only at the margins, so overall if you're making a saving it's still a good move.

• Why do we suggest comparison sites if this can happen? The alternative is listening to the guy in the supermarket or ringing you trying to flog you a new tariff, and they're just salespeople. While the comparison sites aren't perfect, they are accredited by Ofgem and those standards mean the differences are small.

  In 2005, we took the decision (having made a big fuss about it), that, ultimately it was more important to encourage people to save big money by getting the best tariff easily and switching at the right moment, than to berate comparison sites for small differences.

  We accepted comparison sites were the 'least worst' way to do it. Overall, they provide a good service and tell you roughly the cheapest provider. We hope they'll improve, but they're much better than sticking with an expensive supplier and watching prices rise.

Help! I'm supplied by an independent gas transporter

Independent gas transporters (IGTs) are often used by homebuilders instead of National Grid in new-build properties as they charge less to fit pipes. One in 20 people are supplied by them instead of National Grid.

Occasionally, it may mean you can't switch to certain suppliers – usually the smaller ones.

How to tell if you have an independent gas transporter

If the MPRN (meter point reference number unique to your house) on your bill is 10 digits long, and starts with 74 or 75, this means you are supplied by an independent gas transporter. If you're not sure, Energylinx has a useful tool you can use to check.

Is Utility Warehouse any good?

This is a commonly asked question. Unlike most energy companies and resellers, Utility Warehouse operates by network marketing, which means its customers are encouraged to sell the product to their friends and they get commission for it.

This tends to mean it does well on feedback charts, as customers have a vested interest, and many of them are evangelical about the firm. That in itself doesn't make the product bad, but in our view it's no better or worse than any other energy provider.

Utility Warehouse's prices are included in all the main comparison services we list. So if the company turns out to be cheapest for you, it should be listed by them, and then it's worth going for.

The main pitch of Utility Warehouse is that you can also get cheap mobile, broadband and home phones with it and that reduces the fee. In general, we find using the cheapest individual providers undercuts this, so always compare with those before signing up to it. See the Cheap Home Phones, Cheap Broadband and Cheap Mobiles guides for more.

Can I compare renewable energy?

Luckily, renewable energy tariffs are now commonplace, and most suppliers offer them. Cheap Energy Club has a filter which shows all renewable tariffs.

This is one area where going green and saving money diverge. The cheapest renewable tariffs tend to cost more than the cheapest standard tariffs, so it really is a question of your personal politics. However, if you can afford to go renewable, then it's a help to the environment, and all the main comparison services allow you to compare renewable tariffs.

Not switched for a while?

A recent report from Ofgem - the energy regulator - found that around 57% of customers are still on expensive standard tariffs, often paying £100s/yr more than a more competitive tariff would charge; for the same gas and electricity

To try and prevent these customers from being further ripped off, the government is planning to implement an energy price cap, which will require Ofgem to set a maximum amount that suppliers can charge on their standard tariffs until 2020. This should be in place by the end of 2018. This is in addition to the current price cap for vulnerable and prepayment customers.

The real savings are made from switching however, and to encourage more people to change energy providers, Ofgem has also been trialling other initiatives. These include targeting those that have been on standard tariffs for more than 3 years to highlight the savings they could make by moving suppliers, and organising a collective switch.

Ofgem have also announced plans for a one day switch, which will eventually allow customers to switch by the end of the next working day.

Switch to monthly direct debit to save £75

Fixed monthly direct debit payments, where you pay a fixed estimate each month, can usually save you £75/year as companies are sure you won't default and they earn interest on any overpayments. So if you can do this, go for it. Depending on your supplier, any overpayments are refunded automatically or on request.

Plus don't assume dual fuel (getting gas & electricity from one supplier) is cheapest. When comparing, check the cheapest separate suppliers too.

FREE insulation & boilers

Energy efficiency can seriously cut bills. There are wads of freebies on offer from energy providers, from new boilers to loft and cavity wall insulation.

It's all part of their efficiency obligations to people in certain groups. The full Free Insulation & Boilers guide has more, but below's a taster of what you can get and what it'll save you.

• Boiler replacement or repair. Heating accounts for around 60% of what you spend in a year on energy bills. The more efficient your boiler, the more heat it produces from each gas unit.

  Depending on your boiler's age, a shiny new efficient one could save you up to £320/year. New boilers typically cost £2,300 – a fabulous freebie.



• Cavity wall insulation. Most homes built since 1920 have a gap between internal and external walls. Filling the cavity with insulating mineral wool and foam means cold air's kept out, and warm air stays in. It can save an average three-bedroom home up to £150/year. We've heard of certain cases where damp has formed after having cavity wall insulation installed, so make sure it's appropriate for your home.

• Loft insulation. Up to a quarter of your home's heat escapes via the roof, but you can solve this by laying mineral wool under the rafters, saving up to £130/year.

Got electricity only? You can still save

If you don't have a gas supply, don't think the rules are different. If you only have electricity you can still save serious cash using the comparisons. Use Cheap Energy Club or the other comparison sites listed above to compare electricity prices.

How to save if you're on a key/card meter

While new regulatory caps on how much prepay customers can be charged mean prices are coming down, those on key or card meters are still pretty hard done to, certainly compared to those on billed meters. If possible, switch to one of these. You may have to pay, but the savings are usually worth it.

Often they won't let you though, due to credit score or income difficulties. For full info on how to ditch a prepayment meter for a billed meter, or if you can't, how to save on prepay, see the full Cheap Prepaid Gas & Elec guide.

Want green energy? Most can still save – though not as much

If you want to do your bit for the environment, there are plenty of 'green' tariffs available. You'll usually pay a premium on the very cheapest fixes for green energy, but you can still save £100s/year over big six standard rates.

These tariffs come in 'different shades of green'. Some suppliers promise to match your usage with energy generated from renewable sources – such as solar, wind or hydroelectric – while others will put money into renewable energy developments to boost the amount of green energy in the UK's national network.

Typically, it's only the electricity that's fully renewable. A few suppliers have started to offer 100% renewable gas, but it's rare.

Save £240/year without switching supplier

If you think switching is too much hassle (it isn't, but hey ho), just move to your current provider's cheapest deal. Yes that's right, bizarrely, even though it's the same gas, the same electricity, each energy firm charges a range of rates for using it. And no surprise Sherlock, it's the 'standard tariffs' that most people are on which are by far the most costly, as this table shows:

There are two routes to do this. With both, one boon is even if your tariff has exit penalties they're not usually charged if you move internally (SSE, Ovo and First Utility do sometimes).

1) Go via Cheap Energy Club for £25 cashback. Use the 'My Current Supplier' filter in our Cheap Energy Club to see all your supplier's deals and find the EXACT cheapest one for you. For many (not all) of those above, you can get £25 dual-fuel cashback.

2) Scan through our suppliers' cheapest tariffs list. Use the info above, then call your supplier and ask to switch. Be warned though the table above is based on average usage, and there can be regional variation. It should be fine though, do ask it to double-check the numbers for you and give you a bespoke price.

Switched energy? Get your direct debit right

Energy complexity is frustrating. Switching at a time when price hikes aren't looming can save people big money. But it can feel the opposite if the direct debit goes up.

Direct debits are based on an estimate of your usage. So some find they've switched to a cheaper tariff, but their direct debit rises. This can be the new firm over-estimating or the old one under-estimating. If it means you overpay, you'll get the money back later.

Since we've been lobbying on direct debits, rules have changed. Suppliers' licences now say they must ensure direct debits are reasonable. If yours isn't, see the full help guide Energy Direct Debits.

On a fix? You can switch again penalty-free in the last 49 days of your deal

In 2013, Ofgem introduced new rules to protect people on fixed tariff deals. This included banning suppliers from charging exit fees in the last seven weeks of fixed-term deals.

If you're near the end of a fix, you can't be charged exit fees for moving to a new deal – provided your switch completes within 49 days of your current deal ending – despite what some suppliers say.

Renters can switch too

If you rent your home, you could save £370+/year by switching. You don't need to own the property to do it, so don't just stick with the previous tenant's gas or electricity firm.

Tenants can print out our factsheet to give to landlords. It explains the rights that renters have to switch energy supplier. It also helps landlords understand that allowing tenants to switch won't cause them any problems.

When renting, you're free to switch, providing you pay the energy supplier directly (rather than paying your landlord).

You should also check your tenancy agreement – but even if your contract bans switching, Ofgem's guidance on this states that if you pay the energy bill, you're still entitled to change supplier any time. You can still compare on Cheap Energy Club if you don't have the former occupants' bills, just hit the "don't know" button when you enter your usage.

We'd love to hear your experiences of switching as a renter on the Switching when renting forum discussion, especially if you've successfully challenged your landlord. In our poll, 52% told us they switched with no problems and didn't consult their landlord.

If you're a renter, here's some more info on your switching rights.

Check if you're one of three million owed refunds

If you switched energy firms before 2014, if you were in credit, you should've been given that money back. Yet for years, many energy firms pocketed the cash. Sometimes they claimed they couldn't contact you as you'd moved house, otherwise they just kept schtum.

In 2014 it was revealed that about three million people were owed a refund by an old supplier. Energy regulator Ofgem now "expects suppliers to do more" to return the cash when people switch away from them, so it should now be automatic.

Energy UK has set up the website My Energy Credit which aims to help people claim money back from their old energy companies, though it's mainly focused on the big six. Our quick questions should also help...

How do I contact my energy supplier?

Ofgem only looked into refunds owed by the big six. Yet it may be worth calling your previous supplier even if it's one of the smaller firms, so we've included contact details for those too.

Many get vexed at being put on hold for an age, so avoid calling at the busiest times. These are usually any time Monday, lunchtimes, month ends and starts, 8.30am-9am weekdays and when people get home from work.

	0800 048 0202 (free from landlines) Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 8am-6pm Also includes Sainsbury's Energy.
	0800 056 7777 (free from landlines) Mon-Fri, 8am-8pm, Sat 8am-2pm
	0345 052 0000 Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 8am-6pm
	0800 073 3000 Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 8am-6pm
	0800 027 0072 Mon-Fri 8am-10pm, Sat 8.30am-6pm
	0345 071 9710 Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 8am-2pm Also includes Atlantic, Southern Electric, Scottish Hydro, Swalec, M&S Energy.
	0800 954 0693 Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 9am-4pm
	0800 028 6699 Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm
	0192 632 0700 Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 9am-4pm
	0800 254 0000 Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 8am-1pm
	0800 599 9440 Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 9am-5pm
	0333 777 0777 Mon-Fri 9am-5:30pm, Sat 9am-4.30pm

Use less energy

It's not just which energy supplier you pay, but how much you use. Cutting energy is a mix of big and little things.

Turn down the thermostat and wear jumpers, turn lights off when you leave a room, use energy saving light bulbs, defrost the fridge and check it's not on too high and don't leave electrical goods on standby. For more info, read the forum's Energy Saving Hunt and see the Energy Saving Trust website.

Smart thermostats can also help some save on their energy bills. These gadgets give you greater control over your home's heating, letting you adjust it on the move via a mobile app or online, and set more complicated heating schedules than your traditional thermostat.

They can be pricey though, so see the Smart Thermostats guide to check if they're right for you.

Some suppliers run credit checks

Some firms do a credit check when you apply to switch, as if you pay by direct debit, bills are estimated – if they under-assess you, you could owe them cash, so they want to know you're good for it. There are two types of credit check done…

• Soft search – this is the best type, as you can see it on your file, but lenders can't so it DOESN'T have any impact on your ability to get future credit products (like mortgages).
• Hard search – this DOES leave a mark on credit files lenders can see and can have a minor negative impact on future credit applications. This isn't a big deal usually, but if you're planning to apply for a mortgage within the next couple of months you may want to miss it.

If you don't pass the credit check, suppliers may ask you to pay a security deposit or suggest a prepayment meter in order to take on your supply. You can stop the switch if this happens though.

If you're worried about your credit score, our Credit Scores guide has tips on how to boost it.

Do a meter reading every time you get a bill

Don't rely on your energy provider's estimate; these are often way out. If they're underbilling, you'll have a big whack to pay when your supplier receives your actual meter reading. If they're overbilling, then they've unfairly got your cash.

If your direct debit is way off kilter, call up and ask for it to be changed. You have a range of rights to ensure it's correct. See the full Energy Direct Debits guide for template letters.

Smart meters can help stop this as they send meter readings automatically to your supplier, so you only pay for what you use. Yet if you get them, then switch supplier, most meters will lose this functionality – though don't let this put you off switching. See the Smart Meters guide for more.

Economy 7 users, you can save too

If you pay different rates depending on what time you use your energy, you can still save. Economy 7 users can compare in exactly the same way as everyone else. See our full Is Economy 7 Right for You? guide for full info.

Economy 7 users can switch to cheap fixes too. In most cases Economy 7 users can also get the top tariffs in the Top Picks table above.

If you've Economy 10, it's slightly more effort. However, we've worked out a way to compare – see how to do it in our Economy 7 guide. Economy 7 and 10 tariffs are only worth considering if you've storage heaters, work shifts or can use appliances on timers.

Use heating oil? See how to save

If you use a heating-oil tank to warm your home, our guide can help slash your bills.

Some 1.3 million UK households rely on heating-oil tanks. But many overpay due to an under-regulated market that gets too little political attention.

Our guide includes five simple steps to help cut costs, including how to haggle down the price, when to time your purchase, buying in bulk for big discounts and pay in the cheapest possible way.

Prices have fallen recently and the average annual cost is now around £675 – but you could still save on your bills. The guide's only for those using home heating oil (not LPG or renewable energy). See Cheap Heating Oil.

How to complain about your energy provider

The energy industry isn't known for having great customer service across the board, and while a provider may be good for some, it can be hell for others. Common problems include incorrect bills, switching issues, direct debits being too high, refund delays and more. It's always worth trying to call your provider first, but if not then…