Unlike most UK suppliers, Ecotricity holds a permanent derogation from the Ofgem Energy Price Cap. The Green Variable tariff is therefore not capped each quarter — Ecotricity sets its own prices and reinvests the margin into new renewable generation. Headline unit rates and standing charges vary across the 14 UK distribution regions; Ecotricity publishes the full per-region grid in its May 2026 tariff sheet (PDF). For the live rate that applies at your postcode, get a quote on Ecotricity's site.
Current tariffs
Ecotricity domestic tariffs
Prices below are the Ecotricity published rates for a typical single-rate meter on direct debit, excluding VAT. Final bill amounts depend on your region and meter type.
Green Variable
variableNo fixed term
100% renewable
Ecotricity's default tariff and the only one that does not require a smart meter. Unit rate and standing charge can move with the market — but, because Ecotricity sits outside the Ofgem price cap, changes are announced directly by the supplier rather than at the quarterly cap review. Switch out at any time without an exit fee. 100% green electricity (REGO-backed) and carbon-neutral green gas; electricity is also Vegan-Society certified.
Locks in today's unit rate and standing charge for 12 months — a hedge against further Ecotricity price increases over the year. Requires a smart meter, or a written agreement to install one within 3 months of sign-up. £75 per fuel exit fee if you switch before the final 49 days of the contract. Same 100% green electricity and carbon-neutral gas supply as the Green Variable.
A time-of-use fixed tariff designed for EV drivers: a flat off-peak rate of <strong>8 p/kWh</strong> from <strong>00:00–05:00 (winter) / 01:00–06:00 (summer)</strong>, with a higher peak rate the rest of the day. Standing charge is fixed for 12 months. Requires a SMETS2 smart meter set to half-hourly readings. Highest exit fee of the range at £100 per fuel — designed for households with a confirmed home charger. Headline peak unit rate and standing charge vary by region; see the supplier's May 2026 price sheet.
For households on a prepayment meter: top up your credit before you use the energy. No fixed contract and no exit fee, so you can switch supplier or move to a credit meter at any time. Same 100% green electricity and green-gas supply as the Green Variable — Ecotricity is one of the very few suppliers offering a 100% renewable prepayment tariff backed by REGO certificates.
Prices verified against the Ecotricity published price list on May 2026. Always check the live price on the supplier's own website before signing up.
Selectra expert
Which Ecotricity tariff fits you, and what will you actually pay?
Ecotricity's four tariffs cover four very different households. Because the supplier sits outside the Ofgem price cap, none of these is the "cheapest in the market" — you pay a green premium. Use the cards below to find the one that matches your meter, your driving habits and your appetite for price certainty.
Green Variable
variable · default
Best fit if — You're moving in, you don't have a smart meter, or you simply want to keep things flexible. This is the only Ecotricity tariff that does not require a smart meter.
Skip if — You expect Ecotricity to put prices up over the next 12 months — there's no cap protecting you, so a rise lands on your bill in full.
What you'll actually pay
Roughly 5–10% above the Ofgem price cap on a typical-use household. On a 2,700 kWh electricity + 11,500 kWh gas profile, that's a green premium of around £90–£140 a year versus a capped Big Six SVT — money that funds Ecotricity's wind and solar build-out. No exit fee, so you can leave the moment that maths stops adding up.
The default landing tariff — fine to start on, but check fixed once your supply is live.
Pay As You Go
prepayment
Best fit if — You already have a prepayment meter (top-up key or smart-prepay) and want a 100% renewable supply without switching to a credit meter first.
Skip if — You can move to a credit meter — credit tariffs (variable or fixed) are nearly always cheaper per kWh than prepayment.
What you'll actually pay
Sits close to the Ofgem prepayment cap (which is now slightly below the Standard Variable cap). On a typical 2,700 kWh / 11,500 kWh dual-fuel household that's ~£1,750–£1,820 a year at May 2026 rates. No exit fee, no contract — leave the moment your meter is swapped.
The only major UK 100% renewable prepayment offer — the right call for green-conscious PAYG households.
1 Year Fixed
fixed · 12 months
Best fit if — You've got (or will accept) a smart meter and you want price certainty. Picks up where the Green Variable hands off — same green supply, locked in.
Skip if — You're likely to move house in the next 12 months (the £75-per-fuel exit fee bites), or you think Ecotricity will cut Green Variable prices over the year.
What you'll actually pay
Currently sits around £40–£90 above the Green Variable for a typical household over the year — the price you pay for 12 months of certainty. Bill spread evenly across the year via fixed direct debit. £75 per fuel exit fee only applies if you switch before the last 49 days of the contract.
The right pick if you value a predictable bill more than chasing the cheapest unit rate.
1 Year Fixed EV
fixed · time-of-use
Best fit if — You drive an EV, charge it overnight at home, and have a SMETS2 smart meter sending half-hourly readings. The 8 p/kWh off-peak window is the headline benefit.
Skip if — You don't (yet) have an EV, or you can't shift charging into the 00:00–05:00 / 01:00–06:00 window — outside that window the peak rate is materially higher than a standard fix.
What you'll actually pay
A typical EV doing 8,000 miles/year needs ~2,400 kWh of charging. Doing all of that in the off-peak window costs ~£192 a year just to fuel the car (vs ~£550 on a standard tariff). Household electricity outside the off-peak window is charged at the higher peak rate, plus the standing charge. £100 per fuel exit fee — the highest in the range.
Genuine savings only materialise if at least 60–70% of your charging happens in the off-peak band.
Figures are illustrative for a typical UK dual-fuel household at May 2026 wholesale levels — your actual bill depends on your region, your meter type and your real annual kWh. Always run your own quote on the supplier site before signing.
How to compare UK tariffs
Three numbers that decide your bill
1
Unit rate (p/kWh) — the cost of the energy you actually use. The Energy Price Cap caps the unit rate on the default (Standard Variable) tariff. Fixed tariffs are usually slightly above or below the cap.
2
Standing charge (p/day) — what you pay per day even if you use zero energy. Covers network costs, smart-meter rollout and policy levies. About 53p/day for electricity and 32p/day for gas on a typical 2026 tariff.
3
Exit fee — what you pay to leave early on a fixed tariff. Typically £25-£75 per fuel. None on Standard Variable. None in the final 49 days of any fixed contract.
Save up to£300per year
Is Ecotricity the cheapest for your usage?
Headline rates lie. The only way to know is to compare against your real annual kWh. Selectra's comparison uses your postcode + 12-month usage to find the cheapest current deal.
Every UK domestic energy tariff has two components: a standing charge (a flat fee in pence per day, even if you use zero energy), and a unit rate (in pence per kWh you actually consume). Your bill = (standing charge × days) + (unit rate × kWh used) + VAT (5%). Compare both numbers — a tariff with a low unit rate but a high standing charge can cost more than the reverse if you use little energy.
The Energy Price Cap set by Ofgem limits how much suppliers can charge for the default (Standard Variable) tariff. It is reviewed every three months. It does not cap fixed-term tariffs — those can be cheaper or more expensive than the cap depending on wholesale prices.
Most UK fixed-term tariffs include an exit fee (typical range: £25-£75 per fuel) if you switch before the contract ends. You can switch without an exit fee in the last 49 days of your contract. The default Standard Variable tariff has no exit fee.
Many UK suppliers offer 'green' or '100% renewable' tariffs which match your annual consumption with REGO certificates. This is a paper-trail match, not a guarantee that the electrons reaching your home are renewable — but it does fund continued renewable generation. Tariffs marked '100% renewable' below carry REGO backing.
If wholesale prices are forecast to rise, fixing locks in today's price for the contract length. If they are forecast to fall, the Standard Variable tariff (capped by Ofgem) tracks the wholesale market down. The right choice depends on your appetite for stability vs. potential savings — Selectra's comparison tool factors in both.
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