Utility Warehouse Tariffs 2022: Tariffs, Prices & Rates
With a Utility Warehouse tariff, they guarantee that you will save at least £50 on your current tariff. However, to get the best Utility Warehouse tariff you will need to switch all of your household service to them. Keep reading to find out more about the Utility Warehouse tariff.
Utility Warehouse Tariffs and Prices
Utility Warehouse has their own price promise. If customers switch their energy, broadband and mobile to a Utility Warehouse tariff, then they guarantee you will save money, and if you don’t save at least £50 within 90 days, you can email your previous suppliers’ bills to Utility Warehouse for a review of your account. Utility Warehouse will add credits to your account to make sure you’ve saved in your first year with them.
Utility Warehouse has a variety of fixed, variable, and prepayment tariffs.
While some customers could undoubtedly save with this offer, they must have their home phone, broadband, mobile and utilities on a Utility Warehouse tariff. Customers willing to switch all of their services and who like the convenience of having all their utilities in the same place may save some money.
As for overall value for money, the Which? Review of Energy Suppliers rates Utility Warehouse in the bottom half, just above British Gas with three out of five stars.
Energy Supplier | Which? Value for Money score |
---|---|
Octopus Energy | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Ovo Energy | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
So Energy | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Utility Warehouse | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Outfox The Market | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Boost | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Utilita | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Sainsbury's Energy | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Shell Energy | ⭐⭐⭐ |
British Gas | ⭐⭐ |
EDF Energy | ⭐⭐ |
SSE (Takeover by Ovo Energy in June 2019) | ⭐⭐ |
E.ON | ⭐⭐ |
Scottish Power | ⭐⭐ |
E.ON Next | ⭐ |
*For illustrative purposes only. Figures taken from Which?'s September 2021 survey.
Utility Warehouse Standard Tariff
The government and Ofgem have implemented a price cap on standard variable energy tariffs. This cap is currently £1,277 per year for dual fuel, and we expect this to rise again significantly in Spring 2022.
Utility Warehouse guarantees their standard variable tariff, known as Gold Energy, will always be cheaper than the Ofgem price cap. As of the 1st November 2021, the Gold Energy tariff promises to stay lower than the price cap as long as you switch all your services to them.
You will also need to have a smart meter installed if you don’t already have one. Otherwise, Utility Warehouse cannot provide you with their best available energy tariff. As with all energy suppliers, Utility Warehouse is offering a free smart meter installation to customers who need one.
The Utility Warehouse standard variable tariff also does not have exit fees, which means you can switch your supplier or tariff at any time without having to pay a penalty.
With a standard variable tariff, such as the Utility Warehouse Gold Energy tariff, the rate you pay for your energy can change at any time. Your rates are not fixed and you could spend more in the long term.
Term | No fixed term, prices can change at any time |
---|---|
Exit fee | £0 per fuel |
Cheaper than price cap guarantee | ✔ |
Utility Warehouse Fixed Tariffs
With a fixed Utility Warehouse tariff, known as the Double Gold tariff, the rate you pay for your electricity and gas will be the same for the length of your contract.
A fixed Utility Warehouse tariff can provide you with peace of mind, knowing that it protects you against any price rises from Utility Warehouse in the future.
A fixed tariff doesn’t mean your bill is fixed, it means your standing charge and unit rates are fixed. This means if you use more gas or electricity, your bill will increase, but the amount you pay for each unit will always be the same.
When you set up your energy with Utility Warehouse, they give you the choice of either a budget direct debit or monthly arrears payments. With a budget direct debit, it will fix your bill at the same amount each month, meaning you can budget your energy costs.
When setting up your energy with Utility Warehouse, or any energy supplier, it’s important to use the appropriate consumption for your property. The most accurate way is to use the Annual Consumption from your most recent bill.
If you underestimate your consumption, you may end up with a large bill after a few months, or at the end of the contract.
If you overestimate your consumption, your account will be in credit. You can request this credit to be used on a future bill or to be returned to your bank account.
At the time of writing, the Double Gold tariff from Utility Warehouse has the option to choose a fixed rate tariff or the standard variable tariff for energy.
Because of the energy crisis, it currently works out cheaper to have a standard variable tariff than a fixed Utility Warehouse tariff.
So, aside from the cost, there is very little to differentiate between the fixed and variable Utility Warehouse tariffs. They are both 100% renewable energy tariffs, and both come with a £50 discount off your bill when you’ve had your smart meter installed.
That being said, with a fixed tariff, it protects you against increases to your rates. We expect the next price increase to come in April 2022, and some analysts are predicting at least a 30% increase to put the price cap up to about £1,660.
Utility Warehouse is also offering new customers up to £200 to pay off any exit charges you might have with your existing supplier when you sign up to the Double Gold tariff.
Term | Fixed until 30 September 2022 |
---|---|
Exit fee | £25 per fuel |
100% renewable energy | ✔ |
A tree planted in your name | ✔ |
Protection against price rises | ✔ |
Up to £200 to pay exit fees for current suppliers | ✔ |
Utility Warehouse Price Changes In The News
July 2018: 4% increase for customers on the Utility Warehouse standard variable tariff, which affected about 250,000 customers.
March 2019: Effective from 1 April 2019, Utility Warehouse increased its standard variable tariff by 10%.
April 2020: Coronavirus measures meant the price cap was lowered and Utility Warehouse reduced its standard variable tariff by 1%.
April 2021: The price cap went up and so did Utility Warehouse prices, by about 9% to match the new price cap.
October 2021: The price cap increased again to £1,277. Utility Warehouse promised to keep its prices lower than the price cap at £1,213
Utility Warehouse PAYG Tariff
Utility Warehouse also offers prepayment tariffs, also known as pay-as-you-go or top-up tariffs for customers who prefer to top-up their gas and electricity.
Whilst this kind of tariff can certainly help customers to budget, Utility Warehouse doesn’t offer a fixed rate tariff for prepayment customers, and the only prepayment tariff available is the Evergreen Variable tariff.
It has lower unit rates, compared to the other tariffs from Utility Warehouse, but the standing charge is substantially more expensive.
How Do I Change My Utility Warehouse Tariff?
Existing Utility Warehouse customers who wish to change their tariff can contact Utility Warehouse customer service on 0333 777 0777 to discuss any changes to their account.
Aside from changing your Utility Warehouse tariff, you can also use the Utility Warehouse customer service number to:
- Transfer your account to a new property
- Close your current account
- Submit a meter reading
- Pay a bill
The lines are open Monday to Friday 9am to 5:30pm, and Saturday from 9am to 4:30pm.
Utility Warehouse Business Tariffs
Utility Warehouse offers business tariffs in a similar format to their residential tariffs, in that the more services you take out with them, the more you will save.
Currently, Utility Warehouse promises:
- An extra 10% off your business energy bill in the first year
- Save up to £60 on your internet in the first six months
- Free calls to other Utility Warehouse mobile phones
- Free mobile insurance for all your mobile phones
- Up to £200 to help with exit fees on current tariffs
To be eligible, they expect you to switch at least four of your services to a Utility Warehouse tariff.
To register for a Utility Warehouse business account, you will need to speak to their business sales team for a personalised quote. You can reach them on 0333 777 3252.