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⚡ UK Energy Providers

2026 supplier comparison · tariffs · EV charging rates · solar export

📊 2026 UK Energy Market: Ofgem price cap at £1,849/yr (Apr–Jun 2026). Since April 2026, government policy removed green levies from electricity bills — rates are ~3.5p/kWh lower as a result. Typical standing charge is 55.8p/day. Typical household uses ~4,200 kWh/yr. 0% VAT on solar/battery installations. 94% of new solar installs now include a battery.

Price Cap
£1,849/yr
Standing Charge
55.8p/day
Solar Export (SEG)
4p – 15p
Battery Uptake
94%

🏆 Top Rated Suppliers (2026)

Octopus Energy 82/100
★★★★★
Best overall, smart tariffs
OVO Energy 74/100
★★★★☆
Green energy
E.ON Next 71/100
★★★★☆
EV off-peak (6.9p)
Utilita 70/100
★★★★☆
Prepayment, budgeting

📋 All Suppliers

🐙

Octopus Energy

🎁 Referral available

The people-powered disruptor

★ 4.7 / 5
6.5M+ · since 2015

Agile, Tracker, Cosy, Intelligent Go — innovative smart tariffs no one else has. Best for solar + battery homes.

Available Tariffs

Agile Octopus Half-hourly wholesale Variable Best: Shiftable loads, EV, battery
Octopus Tracker Daily wholesale Variable Best: Flexible usage, no battery
Octopus Cosy 3-rate (cheap daytime) Peak 38p / Day 12p / Night 9p Best: Home workers, heat pumps
Intelligent Octopus Go EV smart charging Off-peak 7p / Peak 28p Best: EV owners (compatible cars)
Octopus Flux Import/export 3-rate Export up to 15p Best: Solar + battery (best export)
Outgoing Agile Half-hourly export SEG Agile-linked Best: Large solar systems

✓ Pros

  • Most innovative tariffs in UK
  • Excellent customer service (Which? 4 years running)
  • Real-time API access
  • 100% renewable electricity
  • British Gas-backed (stable)

✗ Cons

  • Agile rates can spike to 100p
  • Tracker not always cheapest vs fix
  • iOS/Android app can be glitchy
🐙 Get £50 credit when you switch to Octopus Energy using my referral link — you get credit, I get credit. Win-win.
⚛️

EDF Energy

Big six — nuclear generator

★ 3.2 / 5
5M+ · since 2002

Owns nuclear power stations. Wide range of fixed tariffs, EV Everywhere scheme, decent solar export options.

Available Tariffs

Simply Fixed 12-month fix ~27p/kWh Best: Price certainty seekers
EV Everywhere EV tariff with Ohme Off-peak ~8.5p Best: Ohme charger owners

✓ Pros

  • Strong fix deals
  • EV partnership with Ohme
  • Nuclear generation (low carbon)

✗ Cons

  • Customer service below average
  • Less flexible tariffs
  • No half-hourly pricing
🔵

British Gas

The UK's largest supplier

★ 2.8 / 5
7.5M+ · since 1812

Huge scale, Hive smart home integration, PeakSave scheme pays you to shift usage. EV tariff with free charging miles.

Available Tariffs

Fixed Tariff 12-month fix ~26p/kWh Best: Standard households
PeakSave Sunday Reward shifting Free electricity some Sundays Best: Flexible users
EV Tariff EV off-peak Off-peak ~8p + free miles Best: British Gas customers with EV

✓ Pros

  • PeakSave rewards (free electricity)
  • Hive smart home integration
  • Nationwide service network

✗ Cons

  • Poor customer service reputation
  • Less innovative tariffs
  • Higher standing charges
💚

OVO Energy

Green challenger

★ 3.5 / 5
1.5M+ · since 2009

Strong green credentials, smart EV charging via Ohme + Kaluza platform. Heat pump specialist.

Available Tariffs

OVO Fixed 12-month fix ~27p/kWh Best: Green-minded households
Charge Anytime EV fixed off-peak 7p/kWh off-peak Best: EV owners

✓ Pros

  • Carbon-neutral energy
  • Good heat pump integration
  • Kaluza smart platform

✗ Cons

  • Smaller than Big Six
  • Fewer tariff options
  • Less solar-friendly than Octopus
🔋

E.ON Next

Next-gen Big Six

★ 3.0 / 5
4M+ · since 2000

Carbon-free electricity, Next Drive EV tariff, good solar SEG rates, heat pump specialist with Daikin.

Available Tariffs

Next Fixed 12-month fix ~27p/kWh Best: Standard households
Next Drive EV off-peak 6.9p/kWh off-peak Best: EV owners (lowest off-peak)

✓ Pros

  • Very low EV off-peak rate
  • Carbon-free electricity
  • Good solar export

✗ Cons

  • Interface clunky
  • Customer service average
  • Limited smart tariffs
🌿

Scottish Power

Green Big Six

★ 2.5 / 5
3.5M+ · since 1990

100% renewable electricity standard. EV tariff with Pod Point. Offshore wind generator.

Available Tariffs

Fixed Saver 12-month fix ~28p/kWh Best: Standard users
EV Saver EV off-peak Off-peak ~8p Best: Pod Point users

✓ Pros

  • Renewable standard
  • Offshore wind investment
  • Pod Point partnership

✗ Cons

  • Lower customer satisfaction
  • Fewer tariff choices
  • No innovative smart tariffs
💳

Utilita

Pay-as-you-go specialist

★ 3.8 / 5
800K+ · since 2002

Smart PAYG meters — top-up by app, no credit checks. Best for budgeting, no debt risk.

Available Tariffs

Smart PAYG Pre-payment ~28p/kWh Best: Budgeting, no credit history

✓ Pros

  • Smart prepayment is excellent
  • Good app
  • No debt risk

✗ Cons

  • No smart tariffs
  • Higher rates than credit
  • No EV/solar options

💡 Which Tariff Type is Right for You?

🏠 Standard Fixed

Same rate 24/7 for 12 months. Predictable bills, no surprises. Best if you can't shift usage.

⏰ Time-of-Use (ToU)

Cheap off-peak, expensive peak. Agile, Cosy, Go. Best if you can shift washing, EV charging, battery to off-peak.

☀️ Solar + Battery

Flux, Outgoing Agile, Cosy with export. Best if you generate your own power and want to maximise self-consumption + export earnings.

💰 Potential Savings by Switching

Fixed → Agile (shiftable)
£200–£400/yr
If you can shift 40%+ usage to off-peak
Fixed → EV tariff
£150–£350/yr
EV owners charging 8,000+ miles/yr
Solar + battery → Flux
£200–£600/yr
Combined import savings + export earnings