The cost of energy has risen dramatically over the last few years, with extreme volatility in wholesale prices leading to higher bills.
Prices have dropped since the peaks of the energy crisis, but remain far above levels seen before the COVID pandemic.
The energy market is regulated by the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets, known as Ofgem, whose role is to protect consumers by promoting competition and fair practice within the industry.
This page provides an overview of the major UK energy suppliers and gives some advice and tips, as well as sources for further support.
Contents of this page
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The top 8 suppliers account for 80% of the UK gas and electricity market.
According to the latest data, Octopus Energy has now overtaken British Gas to become the country’s largest domestic electricity supplier.
Our independent and honest reviews of each supplier collate information from trusted sources into one place.
There are currently limited deals offering a cheaper price than the Standard Variable Tariff rate set by Ofgem’s Energy Price Cap. Many deals in the market don’t offer good long-term value.
Some of the ways to substantially bring down your bills are improving the energy efficiency of your home, or reducing the amount of power you use.
Another way to save is to **switch providers with Nous.** Most households can save more than £100 without committing to a fixed deal.
A large proportion of your energy bill comes from heating your home and hot water. For the most up-to-date practical advice, read our guide to **Saving money on energy.**
<aside> 🆘 If you are struggling with energy debt and need urgent help with your energy bills, see this guide
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You should be able to find out what tariff you’re on by looking at a recent energy bill. There are two main types of energy tariff: variable or fixed.
Most people are currently on a standard variable tariff, which is also known as a default tariff. This means that as the cost of energy changes, your rate changes, too. At the moment, both the unit cost of energy and the level of standing charges (the cost of being connected to the energy network) are set by Ofgem’s energy price cap. This means your energy costs will change every three months when the price cap is reviewed. With a variable tariff, you can switch supplier at any time as you’re not locked into a contract.