We find your cheapest energy deal, fast

Welcome to EnergyPlus — the fast, free way to compare energy tariffs across the whole UK market and find the cheapest gas and electricity deal for your home. With the Ofgem energy price cap at £1,663/yr (1 Jul–30 Sep 2026), there has rarely been a more important time to check whether you are overpaying. Around 35% of households on fixed tariffs are unaffected (Ofgem) — only standard variable bills move with the cap. Below you will find live 2026 price cap figures, unit rates and standing charges, a clear breakdown of every tariff type — fixed, variable, Economy 7, green, EV, solar SEG, no-standing-charge and prepayment — plus a step-by-step guide to switching supplier in minutes.

The Ofgem energy price cap explained (2026)

The Ofgem energy price cap sets the maximum that suppliers in England, Scotland and Wales can charge per unit of gas and electricity, and the maximum daily standing charge, for customers on a standard variable tariff (SVT). It is reviewed every three months and is expressed as an annual figure for a “typical” household — but it is crucial to understand the cap limits unit rates, not your total bill. If you use more energy than the typical household, you will pay more than the headline figure.

The price cap for a typical dual-fuel household paying by Direct Debit is £1,663 per year for July–September 2026. Here are Ofgem’s Direct Debit rates for this quarter next to the confirmed rates from 1 October:

The “typical” household is defined by Ofgem as using 2,500 kWh of electricity and 9,500 kWh of gas (Ofgem updated values) per year. Prepayment and standard-credit customers have their own cap levels, and rates vary by region — see unit rates by region below. The cap does not apply to fixed tariffs — around 35% of households are on a fix and unaffected (Ofgem) — which is exactly why a competitively priced fix below the £1,663 cap can save you money.

The Ofgem price cap: £1,663 (July–September 2026)

The July rise (13% on Ofgem’s figures) was driven almost entirely by higher wholesale gas prices: gas unit rates rose around 24% while electricity rose about 5%, after wholesale gas climbed sharply in the early months of 2026. The cap is set from wholesale costs in the months before each announcement, so those prices fed straight into the July–September level. Ofgem’s October figures are already published: the cap rises again by £60 (4%) to £1,723, and gas costs are the driver once more.

The outlook beyond that is not a fall. Cornwall Insight’s forecast for January–March 2027, published on 26 August, is £1,872 a year (up 9%), with Ofgem confirming the actual figure in late November — see our 2027 price cap outlook. For households, the practical takeaway is simple:

• If you are on a standard variable tariff, your rates move with every cap change — a fix priced below the £1,663 cap at your usage locks in a lower rate and beats the confirmed October level too.
• A fixed tariff priced below the cap protects you from the next rise — today’s cheapest switch-ready deals are in the card above, priced live for a typical London home.
• Choose a fix with low or no exit fees so you keep the freedom to switch again if prices fall later in 2026.

What is an energy tariff?

An energy tariff is the pricing plan that determines how much you pay for your gas and electricity. Every tariff has two core components: a unit rate (the price per kilowatt-hour, or kWh, of energy you use) and a standing charge (a fixed daily fee that covers the cost of maintaining your connection to the grid, meter reading and certain network and policy costs). Your annual bill is simply your usage multiplied by the unit rate, plus 365 days of the standing charge.

Because the standing charge is fixed, two households on the same tariff can pay very different totals depending on how much energy they use. That is also why comparing tariffs on annual cost — not just the headline unit rate — matters. EnergyPlus calculates the real annual cost for your postcode and usage so you are comparing like for like.

UK energy tariff types compared

There is no single “best” energy tariff — the right choice depends on how and when you use energy, whether you have solar panels or an EV, and how much price certainty you want. Here is how the main 2026 tariff types compare:

Fixed vs variable: which should you choose in 2026?

With the cap up 13% on 1 July and rising a further 4% to £1,723 on 1 October (confirmed), a fixed tariff currently makes sense for most households. Fixing locks in a rate; the point is to fix below the £1,663 cap at your own usage. A standard variable tariff only wins if the cap falls below your fixed rate — and the only published forecast (Cornwall Insight, 26 August) has it rising again to £1,872 for January–March 2027. The ideal choice is a fix priced below the cap with no or low exit fees, giving you both protection and flexibility. Read our full fixed vs variable guide →

Unit rates & standing charges by region

The price cap is a national average. Ofgem sets separate capped unit rates and standing charges for each of the 14 distribution regions, because network charges differ from region to region. The national Direct Debit averages are 26.11p/kWh for electricity and 7.33p/kWh for gas (1 Jul–30 Sep 2026).

We do not publish a regional table here because the figures change every quarter and the only accurate source is Ofgem’s own breakdown: energy price cap unit rates and standing charges by region (Ofgem). Enter your postcode in the comparison above and the results show the exact capped rates for your address alongside the deals that beat them.

How to choose the cheapest energy tariff

1. Know your usage. Grab a recent bill or your annual kWh figures — accurate usage is the single biggest factor in a fair comparison.
2. Compare on annual cost, not unit rate alone. A low unit rate paired with a high standing charge can cost more overall.
3. Decide fixed vs variable. With the October rise confirmed, a fix priced below the £1,663 cap is the safe play for most homes.
4. Match the tariff to your life. EV owner? Look at overnight EV tariffs. Solar panels? Prioritise a strong SEG export rate. Out all day? Economy 7 may not suit you.
5. Check exit fees. A fix with low or zero exit fees keeps your options open if the market improves.
6. Read the small print on “green” claims and any introductory or capped-period pricing.

How to switch energy supplier (about 3 minutes to start)

Switching energy supplier is free, simple and protected. Your gas and electricity supply is never interrupted — the only thing that changes is who bills you. Here is the process:

1. Enter your postcode and usage in the comparison above (about 3 minutes).
2. Compare real annual costs from across the UK market and pick your deal.
3. Confirm your details. Your new supplier manages the entire switch.
4. Switch completes in around 5 working days under the Energy Switch Guarantee, with a 14-day cooling-off period.
5. Submit a meter reading on the switch date so your old and new suppliers bill exactly what you used — and take one on 30 September, so usage up to then is billed at the current cap rates.

Energy tariffs & price cap FAQ

Price cap figures source: Ofgem (cap in force £1,663/yr for July–September 2026; October–December 2026 confirmed at £1,723/yr on 26 August 2026). January–March 2027 forecast: Cornwall Insight, £1,872 (26 August 2026). Rates verified 11 September 2026. The cheapest-tariffs card is a live quote for a typical London home and varies by region, usage and payment method.