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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Compare tariffs using your household’s annual gas and electricity use, postcode, meter and payment method—not just the headline unit rate. Add each fuel’s standing charge, check contract length and exit fees, then decide whether switching supplier is better than moving to a different tariff with your current supplier. The right choice depends on your usage and whether you value price certainty or flexibility.
How to compare energy tariffs fairly
Use a recent bill or your supplier account to find your annual electricity and gas use in kilowatt-hours (kWh), current tariff, unit rates, standing charges and payment method. You will also need your postcode: prices and available tariffs can vary by region. Ofgem’s switching guidance lists the information a new supplier may ask for.
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Estimate each tariff’s annual cost separately for gas and electricity:
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Estimated annual cost = (annual kWh × unit rate) + (365 × daily standing charge).
#1 Best Overall
- SAFETY YOU CAN TRUST WITH UL CERTIFICATION: With Emporia Energy, your home energy monitoring is safe, reliable, and certified. The Emporia Vue is UL Listed, meaning it has met rigorous safety standards for electrical products in the U.S. and Canada. This certification ensures that every component has been thoroughly tested to prevent hazards, such as overheating, short-circuiting, or fire, offering you peace of mind as you manage your home’s energy consumption.
- INSTALLS IN CIRCUIT PANEL of most homes with clamp-on sensors. Supports Single phase, Single-split phase, and 2-wire systems. 3-wire systems; 3-phase, 4-wire Wye systems with earthed (TN or TT) neutral (no-Delta) are supported with an additional 200A sensor (sold separately).
- 24/7 ENERGY MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING: Automate, manage and control your home's real power anywhere, anytime to prevent costly repairs, conserve energy, and save costs. Monitor solar / net metering. PROTECTED BY A 1-YEAR WARRANTY.
- LOWER YOUR ELECTRIC BILL: Configure settings in the Emporia Energy App to automate energy management for time of use, peak demand, excess solar, and rewards programs. You can even see live reporting and invaluable savings opportunities instantly. Gauge real-time spending and get actionable notifications and automated energy management to help you reduce costs.
- REAL-TIME ENERGY DATA: REQUIRES 2.4 GHz WIFI WITH AN INTERNET CONNECTION to monitor energy use with iPhone / Android / Web app. Vue sensors collect energy data and are accurate from ±2%. The Vue is UL and CE Listed for your safety. 1 second data is only available in the app (when actively open) and retained 3 hours. Minute and hour data are retained in the cloud. 1 minute data is retained 7 days, 1 hour data is retained indefinitely. Export cloud data whenever you want in the app.
Add the two fuels together for a dual-fuel estimate, then account for any tariff-specific discounts or terms. This is a comparison estimate, not a guarantee of what you will pay: actual bills depend on how much energy you use and the tariff’s conditions. A low unit rate can be offset by a high standing charge, particularly if your household uses little energy. Compare dual-fuel offers with separate suppliers too; bundling may be simpler, but is not always cheaper.
Check the details that affect your estimate
- Rates for both fuels: compare electricity and gas unit rates and daily standing charges for your postcode, meter and payment method.
- Annual use: enter actual annual kWh for each fuel rather than relying only on an estimated monthly direct debit.
- Multi-rate meters: for Economy 7 or another time-of-use tariff, apply each rate to the electricity you expect to use in that period. Check the peak and off-peak hours and whether your household can shift enough use to benefit.
- Payment and meter eligibility: check whether the tariff accepts your payment method and meter setup, including prepayment and any required smart-meter or multi-rate functionality. Ask whether your smart meter will remain in smart mode after the switch.
- Contract terms: note the fixed-term end date and any exit fee for each fuel, as well as any conditions attached to discounts.
- Service and specialist needs: if customer service matters to your decision, compare supplier service information as well as price. For EV, heat-pump or renewable-energy tariffs, check eligibility and the terms that matter to you; if you generate electricity, compare export arrangements separately.
Check more than one comparison route
Comparison websites may show different suppliers and tariffs. Check more than one site and the supplier’s own offers, and look at how any rankings or paid placements are presented. Ofgem directs consumers to Citizens Advice’s supplier service comparisons. Its guidance also makes the useful point that a better-fitting tariff may be available from your existing supplier, so comparing does not automatically mean switching companies.
Rank #2
- ⚡ EASY INSTALLATION: Installs in circuit panel of most homes with clamp-on sensors. Supports single-phase up to 240VAC line-neutral; single, split-phase 120/240VAC; and three-phase up to 415Y/240VAC (no Delta). The branch lines can automatically match different phases and have no restrictions in terms of quantity and voltage.Panels with access only to busbars will need flexible sensors available from SEM-Meter.
- ⚡ ENERGY MONITORING ANYTIME, ANYWHERE: Monitor your home's real power anywhere, anytime to prevent costly repairs, conserve energy, and save costs. Monitor solar / net metering. Light commercial 3 phase option available as a separate bundle. Protected by a 1-year warranty.
- ⚡ VARIOUS ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE MONITORING: Comes with 16 50A sensors to accurately monitor your air conditioner, furnace, water heater, washer, dryer, range, etc.
- ⚡ LOWER YOUR ELECTRIC BILL: SEM-Meter measures real-time spending and gets actionable notifications to understand where savings can be made, both to lower your electric bill and to conserve energy and protect the planet’s resources. Be an environmentalist.
- ⚡ REAL-TIME ENERGY DATA: Connect SEM-Meter device via 2.4GHz WiFi to monitor energy usage, with an accuracy range of 1%. View usage in real time through Android/Apple software. Statistics of power usage in now/day/week/month/year format: the validity period of hourly exported data is 90 days, and the exported data of day/month/year data is permanent, available at any time Export from application.
Fixed or variable: which tariff fits?
A fixed tariff holds the agreed unit rates and standing charges for the contract term; it does not fix your total bill, which still rises or falls with usage. A variable tariff’s rates can change. Fixing can make rates easier to budget around, but you could pay more than on a variable tariff if market rates fall. No tariff type is automatically best: weigh rate certainty against flexibility, contract length and any exit fee. Citizens Advice explains the features to consider when choosing a tariff.
The Great Britain price cap is a benchmark for default standard variable tariffs, not a limit on an individual household’s total bill. For 1 October to 31 December 2026, Ofgem gives an average-use benchmark of £1,723 a year for a Direct Debit dual-fuel household in England, Scotland and Wales. It lists typical rates of 26.32p/kWh for electricity with a 54.83p daily standing charge, and 7.97p/kWh for gas with a 29.68p daily standing charge. These are period-specific figures, vary by region and payment method, and should not be treated as a personal quote or compared directly with earlier periods: Ofgem says displayed prices include 5% VAT on gas and no VAT on electricity from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027. Check Ofgem’s current price-cap rates and standing charges for your region and payment method.
Rank #3
- EM16P MODEL & LOCAL CONTROL & DATA PRIVACY: Access your home energy monitor data locally via Built-in Web UI, Open API, and MQTT without relying on cloud services. Unlike cloud-dependent monitors, Refoss ensures your data stays within your home network. Direct local access protects your privacy while giving you 100% full control of your home energy system.
- NATIVE HOME ASSISTANT & OPENCLAW AI: Experience seamless Native Home Assistant integration right out of the box—no firmware flashing or complex coding required. Featuring ✨NEW✨ OpenClaw Support, it enables AI-driven automation for smarter, real-time energy management and seamless smart home control.
- MAXIMIZE SOLAR & ZERO FEED-IN AUTOMATION: Designed for solar homes, the power monitor works with the Refoss app and Home Assistant to automatically use surplus solar power. Appliances like EV chargers, washing machines, and water heaters are powered during midday peaks, maximizing solar self-consumption and reducing low-value electricity feed-in to the grid. Optimizes usage and reduces bills.
- REAL-TIME MONITORING & ±1% ACCURACY: Monitor voltage, current, active power, and power factor of major appliances. Provides ±1% accuracy (200A: 2–200A; 60A: 1–60A) and ±2% at low current. Daily data stored up to 5 years and exportable. With no subscriptions or hidden fees, you get deep historical insights to help you identify every energy-saving opportunity and save 10–20% on monthly bills.
- SMART ALERTS & CIRCUIT-LEVEL CONTROL: Set usage targets for each individual circuit and receive instant alerts when appliances exceed normal consumption. Refoss app supports automation and peak management to optimize schedules, reduce peaks, and improve efficiency. Real-time electricity usage monitor for circuit-level insights.
Check exit fees and contract timing
In Great Britain, Citizens Advice says you can switch away from a fixed tariff without paying an exit fee when 49 days or less remain on the contract. If 50 days or more remain, a fee might apply. Check the specific contract with your supplier: the fee may be charged per fuel, and its amount can change whether a projected saving is worthwhile. Compare the expected saving over the time you plan to stay against any fee rather than comparing headline rates alone.
Exit-fee terms can influence people’s stated preferences. In Ofgem’s 2025 report on 2024 tariff-choice research, 90% of 3,235 respondents were estimated to choose a deal with no exit fee, compared with 61% when it had a £300 fee, with other features held at an optimum level, including £300 annual savings and a five-star supplier. This was an experimental stated-choice result, not a forecast of actual switching. Read Ofgem’s tariff-choice report.
Rank #4
- SAFE & RELIABLE: Meross smart energy consumption monitor is ETL‑certified and compliant with the UL 61010 testing standard, ensuring safe and reliable home energy monitoring. Works with most US homes: single-phase 2-wire systems, single-split phase 3-wire systems, and 3-phase 4-wire Wye systems with earthed (TN or TT) neutral (no Delta). Easy clamp‑on design installs in minutes. Invert CT readings in the app—no physical flipping. PROTECTED BY 2-YEAR WARRANTY for worry-free use.
- TRACK ENERGY & CUT BILLS: Track power, voltage, current, and power factor within ±1% accuracy. Clear power usage and cost charts by minute/hour/day/month/year help you easily understand your energy use. Store up to 5 years of data and export hourly reports for deep analysis. Most users save 10–20% on energy costs by spotting energy hogs and getting accurate insights to cut their bills.
- 24/7 ENERGY MONITORING + SMART ALERTS: Real-time home energy monitoring from anywhere. Set custom alerts for unusual usage spikes and threshold breaches for total peace of mind. Catch issues early with no subscriptions, no cloud lock‑in, and no hidden fees — all built-in. Supports 2 main circuits (200A) + 16 branch circuits (60A), making it perfect for precise, circuit-level energy monitoring.
- MAXIMIZE YOUR SOLAR SAVINGS (HOME ASSISTANT): This solar energy monitor integrates with Home Assistant to detect solar surplus and automatically power EV chargers, water heaters, and other high‑use appliances. Stop wasting solar energy—use it yourself and cut your electricity bill faster. The perfect home energy monitor for solar homes.
- LOCAL DATA, FULL PRIVACY, NO SUBSCRIPTIONS: Connect seamlessly with Home Assistant for advanced energy automation. All energy data stays local—no cloud, no delays, no privacy concerns. Take full control of your home energy, reduce waste, and protect your privacy. Supports Open API and Web Control.
How to switch in Great Britain
- Check your current deal. Find your tariff name, unit rates, standing charges, annual consumption, contract end date and exit fee on your bill or online account.
- Compare current-supplier and other offers. Use your postcode, actual annual kWh by fuel, meter and payment details to compare estimated annual costs. You do not need to change supplier if your current one offers a tariff that fits better.
- Confirm the new tariff will work for your setup. Check payment and meter eligibility, including prepayment, smart-meter mode and multi-rate requirements. Review the complete contract terms and estimate any saving after an applicable exit fee.
- Apply with the chosen supplier or a comparison service. The new supplier normally contacts your old supplier to arrange the move; you do not need to contact the old supplier to initiate it.
- Use the cooling-off period if needed. A 14-day cooling-off period applies after you agree to the new contract. If you want the switch to happen as soon as possible, Citizens Advice says it should complete within five working days, subject to the start-time rule in its guidance. If you want to align the move with the end of a fixed deal, ask the new supplier about a specific switch date.
- Record a switch-day meter reading. Submit the reading to the relevant suppliers and keep a copy. Pay the old supplier’s final bill, then check that any account credit is returned. Citizens Advice says the final bill should arrive within six weeks and credit should be refunded within ten working days after it is sent.
For contract-specific details and switching guidance, see Citizens Advice’s guide to switching energy supplier or tariff.
Northern Ireland has a separate comparison route
Do not apply Great Britain’s Ofgem price cap or the Great Britain switching timeline to Northern Ireland. The cap covers default tariffs in England, Scotland and Wales, not Northern Ireland. Use the Utility Regulator Northern Ireland’s guidance on comparing energy deals and the Consumer Council comparison tool and price comparison tables. Electricity customers can compare available suppliers; gas supplier choice depends on where they live, with Greater Belfast identified in the regulator’s comparison guidance.
Best Value
- SAFETY YOU CAN TRUST WITH UL CERTIFICATION: With Emporia Energy, your home energy monitoring is safe, reliable, and certified. The Emporia Vue is UL Listed, meaning it has met rigorous safety standards for electrical products in the U.S. and Canada. This certification ensures that every component has been thoroughly tested to prevent hazards, such as overheating, short-circuiting, or fire, offering you peace of mind as you manage your home’s energy consumption.
- INSTALLS IN CIRCUIT PANEL of most homes with clamp-on sensors. Supports Single phase, Single-split phase, and 2-wire systems. 3-wire systems; 3-phase, 4-wire Wye systems with earthed (TN or TT) neutral (no-Delta) are supported with an additional 200A sensor (sold separately).
- 24/7 ENERGY MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING: Automate, manage and control your home's real power anywhere, anytime to prevent costly repairs, conserve energy, and save costs. Monitor solar / net metering. PROTECTED BY A 1-YEAR WARRANTY.
- LOWER YOUR ELECTRIC BILL: Configure settings in the Emporia Energy App to automate energy management for time of use, peak demand, excess solar, and rewards programs. You can even see live reporting and invaluable savings opportunities instantly. Gauge real-time spending and get actionable notifications and automated energy management to help you reduce costs.
- REAL-TIME ENERGY DATA: REQUIRES 2.4 GHz WIFI WITH AN INTERNET CONNECTION to monitor energy use with iPhone / Android / Web app. Vue sensors collect energy data and are accurate from ±2%. The Vue is UL and CE Listed for your safety. 1 second data is only available in the app (when actively open) and retained 3 hours. Minute and hour data are retained in the cloud. 1 minute data is retained 7 days, 1 hour data is retained indefinitely. Export cloud data whenever you want in the app.
The regulator’s Northern Ireland switching guidance says customers have up to 10 working days to cancel after signing, and that a switch should complete within 15 working days after the cooling-off period. Cancellation charges may be set out in the contract, so check its terms before signing.
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