Are you asking yourself, “My fixed energy tariff is ending what should I do?”
We’re here to help you make an informed decision. Our energy comparison service offers a fast and competitive view of a selection of top UK energy suppliers.
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We exist to help you find the right energy deal by comparing the latest energy prices on the market, and you’ll hardly have to lift a finger.
By answering a few quick questions about your current energy supply, you can view the latest available energy prices on the market, compare quotes from a range of suppliers and begin your switch all online!
Begin your energy switch, or you can come back another day. It’s entirely up to you. Once you have chosen the energy quote that is best for you, we’ll handle the rest of your energy switch.
Switch online, or drop us a call. We’re here to help you secure great gas and electric deals with solid honest advice.
Going it alone when searching for cheap energy deals can be incredibly time-consuming, and you may miss out on the best available deals. Energy comparison sites allow you to see a wide range of tariffs from trusted energy suppliers in no time.
At Energy Helpline, we'll keep in touch with you as your renewal window opens again to ensure you stay on the best deal available and avoid expensive out-of-contract rates.
Whether you’re looking for a new business energy deal or switching home energy, we’re here to help you. To switch to business electricity or business gas, click here.
If you’re looking to secure a cheap energy deal, selecting the right tariff type could help you reduce your costs. When you compare energy tariffs, it’s important to consider how and when you use your gas and electricity.
For example, if you use most of your energy at night, switching to a multi-rate tariff could help you save money. Below, you can find information on some of the most common types of gas and electricity tariffs.
Fixed rate tariffs lock in the price you pay per unit of energy (kWh) for a certain period of time, protecting you from wholesale energy price hikes. This offers you certainty and means you don’t have to worry about price increases during your contract.
Green energy tariffs have become increasingly popular as we put more focus on our environmental impact. Some suppliers will offer 100% renewable electricity, putting naturally sourced energy back into the grid. A renewable tariff may also include carbon-offsetting. This involves your supplier funding projects that help tackle carbon emissions to offset the gas customers use.
An Economy 7 tariff aims to provide cheap energy deals by giving you cheaper energy rates for a seven-hour window during the night. The off-peak hours and the discount offered will vary from supplier to supplier. It’s worth bearing in mind that Economy 7 peak rates tend to be much higher than regular energy tariffs.
Your standing charge is a daily fee which covers the cost of maintaining your energy supply. A no standing charge tariff sets this daily fee to zero. This can be beneficial for properties where most of your energy is used seasonally or for only a few days a week. Unit rates on a no standing charge tariff can be higher than those on standard tariffs.
Standard variable tariffs are also known as default tariffs and are often the deal your energy supplier puts you on if you haven’t specified your preferred energy deal. Your unit rate will vary depending on the current wholesale costs throughout the duration of your contract.
Prepayment meters are installed in your home, allowing you to become a ‘pay as you go’ energy customer. Prepayment meters are powered by a ‘key’ or smart card that is topped up and inserted into the meter to power it. Whereas credit meters allow you to spread energy costs evenly over the year, prepayment meters require you to pay for your exact usage.
A dual fuel tariff means that you can purchase both your gas and electricity from the same supplier with the same energy tariff. Suppliers will often offer a discount for taking out a dual fuel tariff with them.
Dual fuel tariffs are only available to homeowners and are not offered on business energy deals.
This type of energy deal is a product of the Feed-in Tariffs (FIT) government scheme designed to promote and encourage the implementation of renewable and low-carbon electricity generation technologies. A feed-in tariff is available for anyone who has installed their own method of renewable energy generation, such as solar panels.
You can find plenty of useful information in our handy energy guides.
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The best time to switch energy suppliers will depend on your individual circumstances. If you haven’t switched for a few years, you should compare energy prices to make sure you’re on the best deal available to you.
For those on a fixed term contract, the best time to switch will be when your renewal window opens and you have no exit fees to pay. If you allow your contract to expire, you’re likely to be placed on your supplier’s standard variable tariff. This tends to be one of the most expensive tariffs your supplier offers.
The length of time it takes to switch can depend on whether you’re a business or domestic user, and on your tariff type.
Guidelines such as the Energy Switch Guarantee offer an agreement with suppliers to complete domestic and business energy switches within 5 working days. The process can take longer where extra work is required to complete your switch. This could include installing a new meter at your premises.
Most energy deals will include exit fees for ending your contract early before your renewal window. For business users, early cancellation fees can be significant.
However, you will not be charged an exit fee by your supplier if you switch during your renewal window. Your supplier should make you aware of when your renewal window and provide information on how your energy costs will change should you fail to switch.
The Energy Switch Guarantee is a voluntary set of promises that suppliers can sign up to make sure switching energy is as simple as possible.
When signing up to the guarantee, suppliers agree to a number of promises and targets including:
Your monthly Direct Debit to your energy supplier is just a ‘estimate’ cost that’s suggested by your supplier to cover the monthly energy you’ve used - it’s never completely accurate.
At the end of winter, you might be in debit, which is the exact opposite of credit. Debit is incurred when your monthly Direct Debits aren’t enough to cover your usage. This is completely normal, and irons itself out when the warmer months come and you start using less energy.
the government have announced an Energy Price Guarantee which will see energy bills frozen at £2,500 (based on typical UK usage) from 1st October 2022 until 2024.
However, the price cap has been reduced below the guarantee. This means that the price cap is now active over the guarantee.
The energy price cap is a limit on how much your supplier can charge you for the gas and electricity you use on a default energy contract.
In the vast majority of cases, all you need to do is ask. Industry regulator Ofgem has rules that force suppliers (including any of your previous ones) to refund you credit if you ask, unless they have very good reason not to.
Comparing multiple energy suppliers and tariffs is the best way to find competitive gas and electricity deals.
In 2023, energy prices are much more stable and are up to 69% cheaper than October 2022. Now is a great time to switch domestic and business energy tariffs.