Which is the UK's best energy supplier in 2022?
Are you looking to switch your energy supplier? In this guide, we compare providers in terms of price, customer service and sustainability to help you find the best energy supplier for your home.
The UK energy market consists of nearly 60 energy suppliers. With so many options, it can be difficult to decide which is the best energy supplier for your household.
When choosing the best energy supplier for your home, there are a few different aspects that you may want to consider. We recommend you establish your priorities before starting to compare energy plans in order to find the best energy supplier to suit your needs.
Are you looking for the tariff with the cheapest price, or are you more concerned with having reliable customer support? Maybe you’re interested in saving the planet and would like to go with a green energy supplier.
Whatever it may be, we’re here to help! In this guide, we break down the top energy suppliers in terms of price, customer service and sustainability so that you can decide which is the best energy supplier for you and your home.
Which supplier offers the best price?
When it comes to choosing an energy provider, most people are concerned with finding the best energy supplier in terms of price.
Unfortunately, there is no one best energy supplier for all when it comes to price. How much you pay for gas and electricity varies depending on your location and the amount of energy that your household consumes.
To give you an idea of how much energy you use, see below for the average energy consumption figures in the UK, according to industry watchdog Ofgem. You can also use our Energy Consumption Calculator to get a clearer picture based on your own energy usage habits.
Fuel | Level of consumption | Consumption |
---|---|---|
Electricity | Low (1-2 bedrooms/flat) | 1,800 kWh |
Medium (3-4 bedrooms) | 2,900 kWh | |
High (5+ bedrooms) | 4,300 kWh |
Fuel | Level of consumption | Consumption |
---|---|---|
Gas | Low (1-2 bedrooms/flat) | 8,000 kWh |
Medium (3-4 bedrooms) | 12,000 kWh | |
High (5+ bedrooms) | 17,000 kWh |
You should compare prices based on your own location and consumption for the most accurate price projection.
For a more detailed analysis on how to find the best energy supplier when it comes to price, check out our guides for the cheapest electricity supplier and cheapest gas supplier.
Which is the best energy supplier for customer satisfaction?
When deciding on an energy supplier for your home, the cheapest one may not always be the best choice.
We recommend you choose a supplier that provides high-quality customer support. You want a supplier that you can trust to answer the phone when you’ve got a problem and that will provide accurate billing instead of just relying on estimates.
The table below displays the best energy suppliers in terms of customer service and support, according to the latest research from Citizens Advice. The organisation regularly compares UK energy suppliers across the following six categories:
- Number of complaints per 10,000 customers
- Average call centre wait time
- Switches completed within 21 days
- Customers who had an accurate bill in the past year
- Bills and statements sent on time
- Customer guarantees
Rank | Energy Supplier | Rating |
---|---|---|
1 | M&S Energy | 3.95 |
2 | Octopus Energy | 3.95 |
3 | EDF Energy | 3.85 |
4 | Co-Operative Energy | 3.75 |
5 | Outfox The Market | 3.75 |
6 | E-Energy | 3.56 |
7 | Affect Energy | 3.45 |
8 | So Energy | 3.45 |
9 | Utility Warehouse | 3.15 |
10 | Shell Energy | 3.15 |
Information from Citizens Advice Last Updated March 2022
Which supplier receives the fewest complaints?
Suppliers that excel at customer service are more likely to receive fewer customer complaints.
Energy suppliers are required to publish their complaints handling data. Let’s have a look at which are the best energy suppliers in terms of receiving the least amount of complaints.
In the table below, we list the number of complaints per 10,000 customers, thus enabling a fair comparison that does not depend on the size of the companies’ customer base.
Rank | Energy Supplier | Complaints per 10,000 customers |
---|---|---|
1 | Green Energy UK | 4 |
2 | Utility Point | 7 |
3 | Zebra Power | 9 |
4 | Outfox the Market | 16 |
5 | Avro Energy | 16.6 |
6 | Zog Energy | 18 |
7 | Green | 20 |
8 | MoneyPlus Energy | 22 |
9 | GOTO Energy | 24 |
10 | Igloo Energy | 29 |
*For illustrative purposes only. Figures taken from Ofgem Energy Supplier Performance Scorecard and apply to Q4 2020.
Which is the cheapest green energy supplier?
If you’re interested in doing your part to protect the environment, then choosing a supplier that gets 100% of its electricity from renewable sources (like solar, wind and hydropower) may be the best energy supplier for you.
Energy providers buy electricity and gas on the wholesale market from electricity generators and gas producers. Electricity can be generated from a variety of sources, and we are continuing to see an increase in the use of renewable energy sources in particular.
Contrary to common belief, green energy suppliers are no longer much more expensive, if at all, than other energy suppliers who rely on nonrenewable sources.
Which is the best out of the Big Six?
The term ‘Big Six’ was once used to describe the six largest energy companies in the UK. This dominant group has traditionally been made up of the following providers:
Ofgem recently announced that it would be dropping this term, instead referring to 'large' suppliers to reflect how the energy industry has evolved. While the Big Six once dominated the market, they now account for around 70% of all households. The 'large' suppliers category has expanded to include:
Out of the Big Six suppliers, EDF Energy received the highest customer satisfaction rating in the latest Citizens Advice survey, coming in at 8th place out of all energy suppliers in the UK! The company offers a wide range of tariffs for all customers and meter types. Its cheapest plans are managed entirely online and paid via a monthly direct debit.
Rank | Energy Supplier | Rating |
---|---|---|
1 | Octopus Energy | 4.15 |
2 | EDF Energy | 4 |
3 | British Gas | 3.2 |
4 | OVO Energy | 3 |
5 | Bulb Energy | 2.95 |
6 | SSE | 2.8 |
7 | Scottish Power | 2.7 |
8 | EON | 2.35 |
Information from Citizen's Advice Last Updated May 2021
EDF Energy is also a leader in providing low-carbon energy. The company owns 35 wind farms and 70% of its energy comes from nuclear power, one of the most affordable sources of low-carbon energy that is available in the UK.
How to compare and switch
Once you’ve been able to compare energy tariffs and select the one that suits you best, it’s time to switch your provider.
To switch, you can contact your chosen provider’s customer service or make the switch through a third-party service.
We recommend having the following details ready when you get in touch to switch:
- Account holder name and address.
- The name of your current energy supplier and tariff.
- Your meter type.
- Your annual energy consumption and/or spend.
Not sure how much energy your household consumes? Try using our consumption calculator.
Switching energy supplier is quick and easy. Once you register, you’ll have a 14-day cooling-off period, during which you can cancel the switch and nothing happens. After this two-week period ends, it can take up to a week before the supply officially switches. You can rest assured that at no time will your energy supply be interrupted.