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Choose a tariff by comparing the annual cost for your own gas and electricity use, then deciding how much future price risk your household can tolerate. A low advertised rate or discount is not enough: the useful comparison includes unit rates, standing charges, fees, eligibility conditions, contract restrictions and what happens if market prices move.
Start with an apples-to-apples annual estimate
Volatile prices make monthly figures and headline discounts especially misleading. Build one annual estimate for every plan using the same consumption and the same assumptions. This shows the cost difference before you decide whether certainty or flexibility is worth paying for.
Collect a reliable consumption baseline
Use the latest 12 months of actual meter readings or bills for both fuels. Record gas and electricity separately in kilowatt-hours (kWh). A supplier’s projected annual consumption can be useful as a cross-check, but it should not replace your own history when you have it.
- Your annual electricity kWh and annual gas kWh.
- Your region and whether the property is in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
- Meter type, including Economy 7 or another time-of-use arrangement.
- Payment method, such as direct debit, standard credit or prepayment.
- Your current tariff’s end date, notice requirements and exit fee.
- Any smart-meter, paperless-billing or payment conditions attached to a quoted price.
Ofgem says actual capped costs vary by region, payment method, fuel and meter type. Those details must therefore travel with your consumption figures when you compare offers.
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Use the same formula for every candidate
Keep the fuels separate until the final addition:
- Electricity: annual electricity kWh × electricity unit rate + electricity standing charge × 365.
- Gas: annual gas kWh × gas unit rate + gas standing charge × 365.
- Add unavoidable one-off or recurring fees.
- Subtract a discount only when you know you qualify and can meet its payment or account conditions.
Use the rates for the payment method and meter configuration you actually have. Do not use a supplier’s monthly direct-debit amount as the comparison price. It is a payment estimate based on an assumed usage pattern and account balance, not a universal tariff cost.
Worked example using published regulated averages
The following calculation is illustrative, not a personal bill. It applies Ofgem’s figures announced in 2025 for the 1 January–31 March 2026 price-cap period to a hypothetical household using 2,700 kWh of electricity and 11,500 kWh of gas in a year.
| Component | Calculation | Annual amount |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity unit charges | 2,700 kWh × 27.69 p/kWh | £747.63 |
| Electricity standing charge | 54.75 p/day × 365 | £199.84 |
| Gas unit charges | 11,500 kWh × 5.93 p/kWh | £681.95 |
| Gas standing charge | 35.09 p/day × 365 | £128.08 |
| Total before discounts or extra fees | Sum of the four components | £1,757.50 |
Ofgem’s 27.69 p/kWh electricity rate, 5.93 p/kWh gas rate and average direct-debit standing charges of 54.75 pence per day for electricity and 35.09 pence per day for gas applied across England, Scotland and Wales for that stated cap period. They are regulated averages, not a quotation for a particular home, region, meter or payment method.
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Know what each part of a tariff means
Unit rates charge for consumption
A unit rate is the price for each kWh you use. It determines how strongly your bill responds to heating, cooking, hot-water and appliance demand. Two plans with identical standing charges can have very different annual costs when their unit rates differ.
Standing charges apply every day
A standing charge is paid daily whether you use energy or not. A low-use household therefore feels a difference in the daily charge more sharply because the fixed amount represents a larger share of its annual bill. A high-use household is more exposed to the unit rate because each additional kWh multiplies the difference.
Compare both fuels’ standing charges over 365 days rather than looking only at the pence-per-kWh figures. A plan advertised as having a cheap unit rate can lose its advantage when its daily charges are higher.
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The price cap is not a maximum bill
Ofgem’s default-tariff cap limits the unit rates and standing charges that suppliers can charge on covered standard variable tariffs in Great Britain. It does not cap the total amount a household can pay. As Ofgem puts it, “The more energy you use, the higher your bill will be.” Your consumption, region, payment method, fuel mix and meter type still determine the bill.
Do not describe an average cap figure as your expected annual cost. A household using twice as many kWh will pay more, while a low-use household may pay less even when both are on the same capped tariff.
Compare the price-risk design, not just today’s rate
| Plan design | What normally stays or changes | Potential benefit | Checks before signing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed | A stated price structure for a defined term | Predictable unit-rate and standing-charge basis for the agreed period | Confirm whether both unit rates and standing charges are fixed; check any network or policy components that can still change, the term and the exit fee |
| Standard variable | Rates can change with market conditions and the default-tariff cap in Great Britain | Usually easier to leave and can reflect falling prices sooner | Find out how and when changes are notified, and model a higher-rate scenario |
| Dynamic | Prices can vary frequently, often with a market or wholesale reference | Potential to benefit by shifting use to cheaper periods | Check the data source, update frequency, notification method, meter requirement and a realistic range of bills |
| Index-linked | Price follows a named index under the contract’s stated rule | A transparent link to an external reference | Identify the exact index, formula, publication point, lag, review frequency and where you can monitor it |
What a fixed tariff really buys
A fixed contract buys a known rate structure for a stated period; it does not necessarily freeze every element of your total bill. Read the key terms to establish whether both fuels’ unit rates and standing charges are fixed and whether network or policy components can be passed through. Record the exit charge before you value the certainty. Leaving early can erase an apparent saving.
What a variable tariff leaves exposed
A standard variable tariff can change when market conditions or the regulator’s cap change. It may be attractive when you expect prices to fall or want to avoid an exit fee, but a rise flows through to your annual cost. A capped rate is protection against rates above the permitted limit, not protection against a larger bill caused by higher consumption.
Why dynamic and index-linked plans need extra scrutiny
The European Commission recommends that a contract state whether the price is fixed, variable, dynamic or linked to an index, and explain where the index can be monitored. For a dynamic offer, check how often the price updates and how you receive the information. For an index-linked offer, write down the reference index and the exact adjustment rule. Without those details, a low starting price does not tell you the range of possible annual costs.
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A forecast cannot tell you which wholesale or capped price will occur. A scenario calculation can show whether a change would be manageable.
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- Base case: calculate each plan with the currently quoted rates and your annual kWh.
- Higher-rate case: increase the variable, dynamic or index-linked rates by a percentage that reflects the rise your budget could withstand, then recalculate both fuels and standing charges where the contract allows them to change.
- Lower-rate case: reduce the exposed rates by a comparable amount to see how much upside a variable design could deliver.
- Fixed-plan case: keep the contracted rates unchanged, but include the premium you pay for certainty and the cost of leaving early if your circumstances change.
- Record the range: show the annual totals and the difference between the high and low cases. Label them scenarios, not predictions.
Use the same kWh in every case. Changing consumption and prices at the same time makes it impossible to see which factor caused the result. Future cap levels, supplier offers and wholesale prices can all change, so refresh the calculation before switching.
Match standing charges and rates to your usage pattern
Low-use homes
When annual consumption is small, daily charges make up a larger proportion of the total. Compare the two fuels’ standing charges over a full year before accepting a plan with a slightly lower unit rate. Empty properties, occasional-use homes and highly efficient dwellings can be particularly sensitive to this trade-off.
High-use homes
When consumption is high, a small unit-rate difference is multiplied across many kWh. Heating demand, insulation, occupancy and electric-vehicle charging can outweigh a modest standing-charge difference. Put your actual annual kWh into the formula rather than relying on a typical-household example.
Time-of-use and flexible demand
Economy 7 and other time-of-use arrangements require the correct day and night—or peak and off-peak—rates and the corresponding meter data. A dynamic plan may reward shifting laundry, water heating or vehicle charging, but only if your household can reliably change when it uses electricity. Include any consumption that must remain at peak times instead of assuming all demand is flexible.
Evaluate the contract before comparing the final totals
Price is only one decision axis. Keep a written record of these terms for every offer:
- Contract length and the date the price structure starts and ends.
- Automatic renewal or rollover terms, including the notice period for leaving.
- Cooling-off rights and the deadline for using them.
- Exit charges and whether they apply per fuel or per account.
- Payment method, credit requirements and consequences of a missed payment.
- Discount amount, eligibility, expiry and the action required to receive it.
- Smart-meter or communications requirements, especially for time-of-use or dynamic pricing.
- Support available to customers in vulnerable circumstances.
- The supplier’s complaint route and escalation process.
The European Commission recommends obtaining a summary of key contractual terms and conditions before signing. Treat that summary as a checklist: if an advertised page and the contractual terms differ, use the contractual wording in your comparison.
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Use a decision framework that reflects your household
| Question | Why it matters | Evidence to write down |
|---|---|---|
| What is the expected annual cost? | Reveals the cost of your actual consumption rather than a headline rate | Both unit-rate calculations, both annual standing charges, fees and certain discounts |
| How much price certainty do you need? | Shows whether a known rate is worth a premium | Fixed term, exposed components and the scenario range for variable pricing |
| How damaging would a rise be? | Tests the plan against your household budget | Higher-rate annual total and the monthly cash-flow impact you could absorb |
| Do you want to benefit if prices fall? | Identifies the value of remaining exposed to reductions | Lower-rate scenario and any cost of leaving a fixed contract |
| How much flexibility is valuable? | Exit fees and notice periods can matter if you move or expect offers to change | Term, rollover, notice period and exit charge |
| Can you shift electricity use? | Determines whether dynamic or time-of-use pricing is practical | Meter eligibility and the share of demand you can move from expensive periods |
| Will administration be manageable? | A theoretical saving is not useful if you cannot meet the plan’s conditions | Payment method, meter requirements, support and complaint process |
There is no universal winner. A household with little budget headroom may rationally pay for a fixed term even when its base-case total is higher. A household able to absorb changes and willing to switch may value a variable plan’s flexibility. Your scenarios should make that trade-off visible instead of hiding it behind a single “cheapest” label.
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Follow a repeatable comparison process
- Export or gather 12 months of bills and meter data. Add the kWh for each fuel and check for estimated readings that could distort the baseline.
- Write down account details. Note region, meter type, payment method, tariff end date and any exit fee.
- Capture each offer exactly. Record electricity and gas unit rates, each standing charge, term, fees, discounts and eligibility conditions on the date you quote them.
- Calculate annual totals. Apply the separate fuel formulas, then add unavoidable charges and subtract only discounts you can receive.
- Run higher and lower scenarios. Keep the same kWh and change only the rates exposed by each plan.
- Read the key-terms summary. Verify fixed components, change mechanisms, renewal, cooling-off rights, exit charges, meter requirements and support.
- Choose using both cost and risk. Select the plan whose cost range and contract friction fit your budget, usage pattern and willingness to manage changes.
- Set a review date. Put the fixed end date, variable-rate review point or index publication schedule in your calendar so the next comparison is not rushed.
Common comparison mistakes and how to correct them
Choosing the biggest discount
A discount can be conditional, temporary or tied to a payment method. The European Commission’s advice is to “check the total price for your estimated annual consumption, not only the advertised discount.” Put the discount in the calculation only after confirming eligibility and timing.
Comparing monthly direct debits
Monthly payments can reflect a supplier’s estimate, seasonal balancing and an account credit or debit. Compare annual rates and charges first; treat the direct-debit amount as a cash-flow arrangement that may be adjusted later.
Assuming the cap fixes the bill
The cap limits covered rates, not your total usage. A cold winter, larger household or inefficient appliance can raise kWh and therefore raise the bill even while the capped rates remain unchanged.
Ignoring standing charges
Daily charges continue through periods when a property is empty. Multiply each charge by 365 and include both fuels before deciding that a unit-rate advantage is meaningful.
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An Economy 7 meter, prepayment account or non-direct-debit payment method may have different rates or eligibility. Filter and calculate with the category that matches your account.
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Treating a fixed contract as risk-free
Confirm exactly what is fixed and what can still change. An exit fee, rollover clause or pass-through component can alter the value of the contract if prices fall or you need to move.
Assuming past performance predicts the next period
UK Government’s Quarterly Energy Prices published in 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; it does not predict future wholesale prices, cap settings, consumption or supplier offers.
How volatility should change your contract horizon
When prices are unusually high or changing quickly, a long commitment can lock in an expensive rate, while a short commitment can leave you exposed to a sharp increase at renewal. UK Government procurement guidance notes that in high-priced or volatile markets you may want a shorter contract, for example no more than 12 months, to allow time to make an informed decision. For a household, that is a risk-management principle rather than a universal term recommendation.
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What the published figures can—and cannot—tell you
The Ofgem figures for 1 January–31 March 2026 provide a useful way to understand the arithmetic: separate unit rates from daily charges, multiply by actual use and distinguish regulated averages from personal quotations. They do not establish what your supplier will charge in another region, payment category, meter type or cap period.
The 2025-versus-2024 comparison from the March 2026 government publication demonstrates why neither fixed nor variable pricing always wins. A different wholesale market, consumption profile or contract offer can reverse the result. Use current contractual terms and your own kWh, then update the scenarios when a rate or cap changes.
The practical decision
Fixing is a way to buy price certainty, not proof of the lowest eventual bill. Staying variable preserves flexibility and possible savings if rates fall, but you must be able to absorb increases. Dynamic and index-linked plans add another layer of opportunity and risk that is worthwhile only when the pricing rule, update schedule and meter requirements are clear.
Make the decision from your annual, fuel-by-fuel calculation; then choose the exposure, term and administrative conditions your household can live with. That method remains useful even when prices move again, because it separates what you control—your assumptions, usage data and contract choice—from what you cannot forecast.
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