Compare UK energy tariffs and switch to your cheapest deal

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 now £1,862/yr (+13.5%) since 1 July 2026, there has rarely been a more important time to check whether you are overpaying. About 40% of homes on fixed tariffs are unaffected — only standard variable bills rose. 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.

Since 1 July 2026, the price cap for a typical dual-fuel household paying by Direct Debit is £1,862 per year — a rise of £221 (around 13.5%) versus the previous April–June 2026 cap of £1,641. Here are the current capped rates:

The “typical” household is defined by Ofgem as using 2,700 kWh of electricity and 11,500 kWh of gas per year. Rates vary by region — see the regional unit rates table below. The cap does not apply to fixed tariffs — in fact about 40% of homes on a fix were unaffected by the 1 July rise — which is exactly why a competitively priced fix below the new £1,862 cap can save you money.

July 2026 price cap: now £1,862 (+13.5%), in effect since 1 July

The rise is driven almost entirely by higher wholesale gas prices (gas is up around 24% while electricity rose about 5%), which climbed sharply in February and March 2026 following geopolitical supply disruption in the Middle East — including damage to Gulf energy infrastructure and the temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a shipping route for roughly 20% of the world’s traded oil and gas. Because the UK price cap is heavily influenced by wholesale costs in the preceding observation window, those spikes fed directly into the July cap that is now live.

The outlook for the rest of 2026 is cautious. The next review is 1 October 2026, and Cornwall Insight currently forecasts the October cap at about £1,899/yr (on a current-TDCV basis) — close to the July level rather than falling back to April’s £1,641. A return to spring 2026 prices in the autumn now looks unlikely. For households, the practical takeaway is simple:

• If you are on a standard variable tariff, your bill rose on 1 July 2026 — switching to a fix below £1,862 is the way to bring it back down. (About 40% of homes already on a fix were unaffected.)
• A fixed tariff priced below £1,862 shields you from the July increase — and several fixes are currently well below the new £1,862 cap (see today’s cheapest tariffs above).
• 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 having risen around 13.5% on 1 July and forecast to stay elevated into the autumn (Oct 2026 ≈ £1,899, Cornwall Insight, current-TDCV basis), a fixed tariff currently makes sense for most households. Fixing locks in a rate below the new £1,862 cap. A standard variable tariff only wins if the cap falls below your fixed rate — which analysts do not expect before 2027 (EDF forecasts about £1,912 in January 2027). The ideal choice is a fix priced below the current £1,862 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 (from 1 July 2026)

The price cap is a national average, but the unit rates and standing charges you actually pay vary by the 14 UK distribution regions. Below are representative electricity Direct Debit figures for the current (from 1 July 2026) cap period. National average Direct Debit rates are now 26.11p/kWh electricity and 7.33p/kWh gas:

Figures are indicative averages including 5% VAT under the cap now in effect since 1 July 2026. Enter your postcode in the comparison above to see the exact rates for your address.

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 July rise now in effect, fixing below £1,862 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 (it takes 5 minutes)

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 (take one on 30 June if you can) so usage up to the cheaper previous cap is billed correctly and your account switches accurately.

Energy tariffs & price cap FAQ

Price cap figures source: Ofgem cap in effect from 1 July 2026 (£1,862/yr, confirmed 27 May 2026), superseding the April–June 2026 cap of £1,641. October 2026 forecast: Cornwall Insight (£1,899/yr, current-TDCV basis); January 2027: EDF (£1,912). Rates verified July 2026. Tariff examples are illustrative for a medium-usage dual-fuel home and vary by region, usage and payment method.