Compare in 60 seconds, save £200-£400 a year

Every 12 to 18 months, or whenever your current fixed deal is about to end. Suppliers automatically roll customers onto their standard variable tariff at the end of a fix, and that default plan is almost always the most expensive one on offer. A quick comparison stops you sleepwalking onto an expensive default tariff.

Four things: your annual kWh usage (both gas and electricity), your current unit rate and standing charge, your postcode, and the name of your current supplier. With those four numbers you can compare every tariff on the UK market and see exactly how much each would cost you over a year.

Not always. Price matters most, but it is worth checking the supplier's customer service ratings, complaints handling, exit fees and whether the tariff is genuinely renewable. A tariff that is £30 cheaper but comes with a £75 exit fee and a one-star service score is rarely the best deal in practice.

No. The gas and electricity pipes and wires do not change, only the company that bills you. There is no interruption, no engineer visit and no risk of being cut off. The new supplier handles the switch for you and Ofgem guarantees a smooth handover within 5 working days for most tariffs.

It is the maximum a supplier can charge a customer on a standard variable tariff. The cap covers the unit rate and the standing charge, and it is updated every three months by the regulator Ofgem. The cap is a ceiling on default tariffs, not a guarantee that you cannot find a cheaper fixed deal somewhere else.

Yes. When a supplier fails, Ofgem appoints a new one to take on the accounts, usually on a costly deemed tariff. You are free to switch away at any time with no exit fees. Comparing as soon as you hear your supplier is in trouble is usually the cheapest move.