Shell Energy Tariffs: Variable & Fixed Energy Plans

Is Shell Energy a good deal? Whether you’re an existing or potential Shell Energy customer, our Shell Energy tariffs guide covers the best of the supplier’s fixed, variable and prepayment gas and electricity deals.

💸 About Shell Energy tariffs

Shell Energy offers a number of different tariffs for its domestic customers.

These are quite different to the energy plans previously offered when the supplier was known as First Utility. One of the most significant changes is that Shell’s tariffs use 100% renewable electricity so have much better green credentials than the old First Utility tariffs.

All Shell Energy UK tariffs are available as dual fuel (gas and electricity), electricity only or Economy 7 plans. The standard payment method for each plan is direct debit.

This guide covers Shell Energy UK tariffs for domestic energy customers. Take a look at our business energy section if you're looking for energy tariffs for your business.

Before we get into the list of Shell Energy tariffs, let's see how Shell Energy compares to the rest of the energy market in terms of pricing. We'll use Which? value for money scores to see how each provider stacks up:

*For illustrative purposes only. Figures taken from Which?'s September 2021 survey.

💡 Shell Energy Tariffs for Existing Customers

UPDATE: October 2021 Given the news around increasing energy prices, Shell Energy is currently offering a reduced number of energy tariffs to both new and existing customers.

Unfortunately, existing customers are very unlikely to get access to the best Shell Energy tariffs. This is because energy suppliers generally keep their better deals for new customers as an incentive to sign up in the first place.

Customers who allow their Shell Energy tariff to roll over after their initial contract expires will be automatically switched to a standard variable rate. These are typically the most expensive prices that an energy supplier can offer, so we recommend planning ahead and comparing energy deals in order to switch tariff or provider as soon as your current plan expires.

Scroll down to ‘Variable Tariffs' for more information on Shell Energy's current standard variable tariff rates.

🧾 Shell Energy Tariffs for New Customers

Customers who sign up for the first time with the supplier have a choice of four Shell Energy tariffs. Three are fixed-rate, while a fourth is variable. Let's take a closer look at these plans.

All Shell Energy tariffs in this guide are current as of the date of publication. However, the provider's prices do fluctuate throughout the year, depending on when you sign up.

Shell Energy fixed tariffs

When it comes to fixed-rate tariffs Shell Energy has three options based on duration: 12 months, 25 months and 35 months. With these tariffs, the unit rates and standing charges stay at a set price for the length of the contract. 

In addition to fixed prices, these Shell Energy tariffs come with a few other benefits too. All include 100% renewable electricity as standard and rewards with the Shell Go+ loyalty program, while some offer cut-price internet to those who also choose to sign up for broadband with Shell Energy.

These Shell Energy tariffs are great if you want to be protected from possible increases in the price of energy, however, all impose exit fees if you wish to leave before the end of the contract. For the longer options, these fees could be quite expensive so it’s wise to check the small print and be sure about which Shell Energy tariff is the best one for you before signing up.

Shell Energy Fixed 12 Months

• Fixed energy rates for 12 months
• 100% renewable electricity
• Shell Go+ rewards
• Shell Energy broadband discount

Shell Energy Fixed 25 Months

• Fixed energy rates for 25 months
• 100% renewable electricity
• Shell Go+ rewards
• Shell Energy broadband discount

Shell Energy Go Further

• Fixed energy rates for 35 months
• 100% renewable electricity
• Carbon credits for electricity and gas
• Shell Go+ rewards

Shell Energy variable tariff

Shell Energy offers one variable tariff, known as its flexible tariff. Variable tariffs mean unit rates and standing charges can fluctuate according to the wholesale price of energy, but customers are protected from sudden and dramatic increases by Ofgem’s energy price cap.

This Shell Energy tariff has no end date. As a variable tariff, it has no contract length, meaning you can stay on the tariff as long as you wish. At the same time, you can also leave whenever you wish without facing exit fees.

Shell Energy Fully Flexible

• Variable energy rates
• 100% renewable electricity
• Shell Go+ rewards
• Shell Energy broadband discount
• No exit fees

Prepayment Tariffs

Next, let's take a look at Shell Energy's prepayment tariffs. While a pay as you go energy plan is great for staying on top of your energy spending and knowing exactly how much you're paying each month, the truth is that this type of tariff is typically more expensive than any other fixed or variable tariff.

Shell Energy appears to offer only one prepayment tariff at the moment.

Prepayment features include:

• Cost of energy can fluctuate depending on wholesale market prices.
• No minimum commitment or end date.
• No exit fees if you want to switch tariffs or providers.

Shell Energy Economy 7 tariffs

Each of the Shell Energy tariffs listed above is available on Economy 7 electricity plans, with two different unit rates based on the time of day. A peak rate records energy usage throughout the day, while an off-peak rate of seven hours is charged overnight.

This is especially useful for those who have overnight storage heaters that can be charged when prices are lower. However, you should keep a close eye on your electricity consumption during the day, as peak rates are typically much higher than what you would pay on a standard fixed plan.

Off-peak times for Shell Energy's Economy 7 vary by location, but the seven-hour period is typically sometime between 10pm and 8.30am, depending on the time of year.

Shell Energy Tariffs Without Smart Meter

All of the above tariffs are available with or without a smart meter, which can be installed by Shell Energy at no additional cost. Shell Energy customers are not obliged to have a smart meter installed if they do not wish.

Are smart meter tariffs cheaper?

Base energy rates on Shell Energy tariffs are the same, regardless of whether you choose to have a smart meter installed or not. However, those with a Shell Energy smart meter may have a slight advantage due to some of the benefits of having one installed:

💰 How much are Shell Energy exit fees?

Not all Shell Energy tariffs have exit fees. The variable tariff offered by the supplier does not have any exit fees, so whether you stay on the tariff for just one month or two years, there is no financial penalty to pay when switching providers or tariffs.

All the Shell Energy fixed-rate tariffs do impose exit fees if customers wish to leave before the contract is up.

For the fixed tariffs, the early exit fees are £30 per fuel (£30 for electricity and £30 for gas).

For the longer fixed-rate tariffs (24 months and 32 months), the Shell Energy exit fees are higher - £50 per fuel! In other words, if you are on a dual fuel tariff that’s fixed for 24 or 32 months, you will be charged £100 if you want to leave the plan before the 24 or 32 months are over. For a household using an average amount of energy, this is more or less the cost of a month of energy on these tariffs, so leaving earlier comes at quite a price.

Fixed-rate tariffs can be great for price protection, but exit fees - especially when they are £50 per fuel - mean you should be fairly certain you will stay for the entirety of the contract. This is why it's important to check deals before choosing your energy supplier.

⚖️ Is Shell Energy a good deal?

In our analysis of Shell Energy reviews, we found customers were a bit divided over whether the supplier was good value for money or not. For example, in a Which? annual survey, Shell Energy received four out of five stars for ‘value for money’, but we also found a number of customer reviews that complained about high prices, especially price increases since First Utility rebranded to Shell Energy in March 2019.

By our calculations, Shell Energy tariffs fall in the middle of the pack price-wise. They are cheaper than those offered by some of the large providers, but are also more expensive than those sold by a number of other medium-sized and smaller energy providers.

If you are looking for a very economical and cheap supplier, there are definitely better options than Shell Energy tariffs, but it’s not amongst the most expensive energy providers on the market.

More on Shell Energy Find out more about Shell Energy, including its contact information and online account system in our Selectra guides: Shell Energy login and Shell Energy contact.

• No need to manually submit meter readings.
• Simple to track your energy usage and spending with an in-home display.
• Accurate gas and electricity spend sent directly to Shell Energy, meaning no more estimated bills.