Compare plans by calculating each one’s annual cost from your home’s actual gas and electricity use, then price the risk of future changes. Multiply each fuel’s kWh by its unit rate, add 365 days of standing charges and any unavoidable fees, and subtract only discounts you can certainly obtain. Choose between that result and the contract’s price certainty, flexibility and exposure to rising or falling rates.
Start with the two prices every energy tariff has
Ofgem describes two core charges for each fuel: a unit rate per kilowatt-hour (kWh) and a standing charge paid for each day of supply. Gas and electricity normally have separate unit rates and separate standing charges. A bill therefore depends on both how much energy you use and how long the account remains active.
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The default-tariff price cap in Great Britain limits the permitted unit rates and standing charges for covered standard variable tariffs. It does not cap your total bill. Ofgem’s plain-language warning is that “The more energy you use, the higher your bill will be.” A household using twice as many kWh can pay substantially more than the cap-period average even when it is on a capped tariff.
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Cap levels and actual costs vary by region, payment method, fuel and meter type. Economy 7 and other time-of-use meters can have multiple electricity rates, so a single-rate comparison is not valid for those accounts. A cap is a limit on price components, not a promise of a maximum annual payment.
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Build a reliable consumption baseline
A comparison is only as good as the kWh assumption behind it. Use the latest 12 months of actual meter readings or bill data for gas and electricity. A full year captures heating-season demand and avoids the distortion caused by using one month or a supplier’s generic “typical” household.
Record these details before requesting quotes
- Annual gas kWh and annual electricity kWh, kept as separate figures.
- Your region and whether the property is in England, Scotland, Wales or another market with different regulation.
- Meter type, including Economy 7, another time-of-use arrangement or a smart meter tariff.
- Payment method, such as monthly direct debit, quarterly billing or prepayment.
- The current tariff’s end date, notice requirements and any exit fee.
- Whether the property is dual-fuel or has separate suppliers.
- Any eligibility conditions attached to your current discount or support scheme.
Check that bills show consumption in kWh rather than only a monthly payment. If readings are estimated, submit current readings and allow the supplier to rebill before using the figures. Smart-meter data can help, but use a period long enough to represent normal occupancy and weather.
Calculate each plan on an annual basis
Keep gas and electricity calculations separate, then combine them. For a standard single-rate meter, use this structure:
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|---|---|
| Electricity usage | Annual electricity kWh × electricity unit rate |
| Electricity standing charge | Electricity daily standing charge × 365 |
| Gas usage | Annual gas kWh × gas unit rate |
| Gas standing charge | Gas daily standing charge × 365 |
| Total before discounts | Add the four amounts, then add unavoidable one-off or recurring fees |
| Discounts | Subtract only discounts whose eligibility and payment conditions are certain |
For Economy 7 or another time-of-use tariff, split electricity consumption into each period and multiply each period’s kWh by its own rate. Include any separate day and night standing-charge rules shown in the contract. For a dynamic tariff, use the supplier’s stated method and a range of prices rather than pretending one spot-price assumption is certain.
Illustrative calculation
Suppose a home used 2,700 electricity kWh and 11,500 gas kWh in the last 12 months. A hypothetical plan quotes electricity at 28 p/kWh with a 55 p/day standing charge, and gas at 7 p/kWh with a 30 p/day standing charge. The annual estimate is:
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- Electricity: 2,700 × £0.28 = £756.00, plus 365 × £0.55 = £200.75.
- Gas: 11,500 × £0.07 = £805.00, plus 365 × £0.30 = £109.50.
- Combined energy charges: £1,871.25 before any fees or certain discounts.
The figures in this example are arithmetic only, not a market quote. Apply the same kWh to every candidate plan so that the comparison isolates price and contract design rather than changing the assumed household.
Why a monthly direct-debit quote is not the comparison number
A supplier’s monthly direct-debit amount is a payment estimate. It may include a credit-building assumption, a different forecast of annual use, a balance adjustment or a promotional condition. Two suppliers can quote different monthly payments while their underlying unit rates and standing charges produce a different annual cost. Compare the annual calculation first, then decide whether the payment schedule is affordable.
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Understand what “fixed”, “variable”, “dynamic” and “index-linked” mean
The European Commission advises customers to identify whether a contract is fixed, variable, dynamic or linked to an index, and to check the total price for estimated annual consumption rather than only an advertised discount. The label describes how the price can change; it does not by itself determine which option is cheapest.
Fixed tariff
A fixed contract sets a stated price structure for a defined term. Confirm whether “fixed” covers both unit rates and standing charges for both fuels. Read clauses allowing network, policy or tax components to change, because a product can have fixed headline rates while reserving limited adjustments for specified regulated elements. Record the term, start date, end date and exit fee.
You pay for certainty: if market prices rise, the agreed rates can protect the budget during the term; if prices fall, you may be paying above newly available rates or face a fee to leave. A fixed rate is not a guarantee that the total bill is unchanged, because your kWh can still vary.
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Standard variable tariff
A standard variable tariff can change as market conditions and the regulator’s cap change. In Great Britain, covered default tariffs are protected by the cap, but the permitted rates can move between cap periods. There is no universal rule that a variable tariff is always cheaper or always more expensive than a fixed one.
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A dynamic plan can pass through frequent market movements, sometimes using half-hourly electricity prices. Check the reference market, settlement period, supplier mark-up, data requirements and the process for notifying you of changes. These plans may reward households able to shift consumption, but a household using most electricity at expensive periods can see the opposite result.
Index-linked tariff
An index-linked contract adjusts according to a named index or formula. The contract should state the index, update frequency, lag, calculation method, publication source and notice method. A quote based on today’s index level is not an annual guarantee unless the contract says so. Build high and low scenarios from plausible index movements before signing.
Stress-test the effect of volatile prices
Use at least three scenarios with exactly the same annual kWh: the rates quoted today, a higher-rate case and a lower-rate case. This is a decision aid, not a forecast. Wholesale prices, cap settings, weather and supplier offers can all change.
| Scenario | What to change | What it answers |
|---|---|---|
| Current quote | Use each plan’s stated rates and charges | What is the like-for-like annual estimate now? |
| Higher-price case | Increase variable, dynamic or index-linked rates; leave a fixed plan at its contractual rates | Could a rise break the household budget? |
| Lower-price case | Reduce exposed rates; include any fixed-plan exit cost if switching would be necessary | What upside might certainty give up? |
For a fixed plan, show the premium over a variable plan at current rates and the cost of leaving early. For a variable plan, model how a cap or supplier rate change affects the annual estimate. If the household has a narrow budget, give more weight to the higher-price case than to a possible saving in the lower-price case.
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Give standing charges the right weight
Standing charges accrue every day whether or not you use energy. A 10 pence daily difference costs about £36.50 over a 365-day year for one fuel. The impact is proportionally larger for a low-use property because the fixed daily amount forms a greater share of its bill.
Low-use homes
Compare standing charges closely when the property is vacant for periods, highly insulated, small, or heated by another source. A low unit rate may not compensate for a materially higher daily charge. Calculate the annual standing-charge difference before focusing on a discount.
High-use homes
For a large household, poorly insulated property or gas-heated home, the unit rate usually dominates the annual estimate. A one-penny-per-kWh difference applied to 11,500 gas kWh changes the annual cost by £115, whereas a one-penny daily standing-charge difference changes it by £3.65 per fuel. Use your own kWh rather than a general rule.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check contract friction before signing
Obtain the key-terms summary and retain a copy of the full terms. The European Commission recommends checking key contractual conditions before signing. Record the following items in your comparison sheet:
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- Whether the tariff rolls onto a standard variable rate unless you act.
- Cooling-off rights and the date they end.
- Exit charges for each fuel and any exceptions, such as moving home.
- Notice period and how cancellation must be submitted.
- Payment method, credit requirements and consequences of a failed payment.
- Discount amount, expiry date and conditions such as direct debit or paperless billing.
- Smart-meter installation, communications or data-sharing requirements.
- Eligibility for support, priority services or vulnerability assistance.
- Complaint route, escalation process and compensation rules where applicable.
A discount that requires a payment method you cannot maintain is not a saving. Treat a one-time credit differently from a recurring reduction, and place both in the calculation only when the terms make receipt reasonably certain.
Use a decision matrix instead of chasing the lowest headline rate
Score each candidate against the factors that matter to your household. The annual estimate is essential, but a slightly higher expected cost can be rational if it removes a risk you cannot afford.
| Comparison axis | Questions to ask |
|---|---|
| Expected annual cost | What is the total for the same actual gas and electricity kWh, all standing charges and unavoidable fees? |
| Price certainty | Which components are fixed, and how often can exposed components change? |
| Downside tolerance | Could a higher bill force missed payments or reduce essential spending? |
| Upside participation | Would the household benefit if market or cap rates fall? |
| Flexibility | What are the term, notice period, rollover rule and exit fees? |
| Usage fit | Can you shift electricity use into cheaper periods, and will you actually do so? |
| Administrative fit | Are the meter, payment method, digital requirements and support arrangements suitable? |
What the published UK figures do—and do not—tell you
Ofgem’s 2025 announcement for the 1 January–31 March 2026 cap period gave illustrative Great Britain averages of 27.69 p/kWh for electricity and 5.93 p/kWh for gas. It also gave average direct-debit standing charges of 54.75 pence per day for electricity and 35.09 pence per day for gas across England, Scotland and Wales. These are regulated averages, not a personal quote: your region, meter, payment method and consumption can produce a different result.
The UK Government’s Quarterly Energy Prices publication from March 2026 reported that fixed dual-fuel bills were 1.8% lower in 2025 than in 2024, while equivalent variable bills were 0.2% higher. That historical comparison describes one period and does not predict future savings. It demonstrates why a claim that one tariff type always wins is unsafe.
Account for regional and meter differences
Do not compare a quote for one region or meter configuration with a quote for another and call the difference a tariff saving. Network costs, capped rates, standing charges and eligibility can vary. Economy 7 customers should provide day and night kWh, because a plan with a cheap night rate can still be expensive if most use occurs during the day. Dynamic plans may require a compatible smart meter and accurate half-hourly data.
If you move home, confirm whether the contract can transfer. A tariff with a low annual estimate but a large moving-related exit fee may be less suitable than a slightly higher-cost plan with straightforward cancellation.
A practical comparison and switching workflow
- Collect evidence. Download 12 months of bills or meter data, submit current readings and calculate annual gas and electricity kWh.
- Normalize the quotes. Enter unit rates, standing charges, term, payment method, fees and discounts in separate columns. Convert pence to pounds before multiplying.
- Calculate annual totals. Apply the formulas to every plan using identical consumption. Split time-of-use consumption by period.
- Classify price exposure. Mark each component fixed, variable, dynamic or index-linked. Note update dates and the reference used.
- Run three scenarios. Show current, higher and lower exposed rates. Add fixed-plan exit costs where relevant.
- Read the key terms. Verify rollover, cooling-off period, cancellation route, payment conditions, meter requirements and support.
- Choose using your risk limit. Select the plan that fits both the annual budget and the household’s ability to absorb a rise, not merely the lowest headline unit rate.
- Save confirmation. Keep the tariff terms, quote date, opening meter readings and confirmation number. Check the first bill against the agreed rates.
Common comparison mistakes and their fixes
- Using the price cap as a bill ceiling: multiply the rates by your own kWh; the cap limits rates, not total consumption cost.
- Comparing monthly direct debits: calculate annual charges from unit rates and standing charges first.
- Looking only at a discount: include the full annual price and verify every eligibility condition.
- Ignoring standing charges: multiply each daily charge by 365, especially for low-use or intermittently occupied homes.
- Assuming “fixed” means every bill component is frozen: inspect clauses for regulated or network-cost adjustments.
- Mixing meter profiles: use day/night or half-hourly consumption for time-of-use plans.
- Forecasting from one month: use a complete 12-month period that includes winter heating demand.
- Forgetting the end date: diarise the renewal or rollover date and check options before the term expires.
- Treating one historical result as a rule: the 2025 UK comparison does not establish what will happen in a future cap period.
How to decide when prices are especially unsettled
In a high-priced or volatile market, UK Government procurement guidance says, “In high priced or volatile markets you many want a shorter length contract, for example, no more than 12 months, to allow time to make an informed decision.” The wording is guidance, not a requirement for every household. A shorter term can preserve the opportunity to reassess, but it may provide less certainty and could expose you to a poor renewal offer.
Choose a fixed term when a predictable maximum rate is worth its premium and the household can remain for the full term. Stay variable when flexibility and the possibility of falling prices matter more and the budget can absorb increases. Consider dynamic or index-linked pricing only when you understand the formula, can monitor changes and can adapt consumption or withstand unfavorable periods. Whichever design you select, make the annual calculation and the downside scenario before accepting the quote.
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