Market comparison updated: 28 September 2026
Underlying tariff prices checked: 1 September 2026
Scope: Great Britain, England, Scotland and Wales

Author: Joy | Energy Markets Analyst, 3.6+ years in the energy industry

If you are searching for the cheapest energy supplier in the UK, the answer depends on more than the supplier’s name.

Your postcode, electricity and gas usage, payment method, meter type, tariff type and eligibility can all affect which deal is cheapest for you.

In the latest comparable September 2026 tariff dataset reviewed for this guide, Home Energy’s Fair Variable Dual had the lowest estimated annual cost at £1,453 for a medium-use dual-fuel household using an East Midlands representative postcode and paying by monthly Direct Debit.

The comparison covered 63 tariffs from 16 suppliers. Home Energy was followed by Outfox Energy at £1,481, while Fuse Energy’s cheapest qualifying fixed tariff was £1,489.

These figures are comparison estimates, not personalised quotes.

Quick answer: Home Energy’s Fair Variable Dual was the lowest-priced tariff in the latest comparable September 2026 dataset reviewed for this guide, at an estimated £1,453 a year. It had no fixed term shown and no exit fee under the comparison data. Your own cheapest tariff may be different.

Important: The term “UK energy supplier” is commonly used in searches, but Ofgem’s domestic price-cap system covers Great Britain: England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland operates under a separate energy market.

Cheapest Energy Supplier UK Right Now

The latest comparable September dataset showed these among the lowest estimated annual costs:

Supplier	Tariff	Type	Estimated annual cost	Term	Exit fee
Home Energy	Fair Variable Dual	Variable	£1,453	No fixed term	£0
Outfox Energy	Outfox the Price Cap Tracker 12M Dual V3	Tracker	£1,481	12 months	£150
Fuse Energy	August 2026 Fixed 18m V15	Fixed	£1,489	18 months	£100
Fuse Energy	August 2026 Fixed 24m V1	Fixed	£1,490	24 months	£100
So Energy	So Green Tracker 24m	Tracker	£1,508	24 months	£190
E.ON Next	Next Fixed 24m Exclusive v11	Fixed	£1,510	24 months	£200
Utility Warehouse	UW Tracker Saver 5	Tracker	£1,511	No fixed term shown	£150
Outfox Energy	Fix’d Dual Aug26 24M v1 Family Advantage+	Fixed	£1,516	24 months	£200

The comparison uses an East Midlands representative postcode, 2,500 kWh of electricity, 9,500 kWh of gas and monthly Direct Debit.

The underlying tariff prices were checked on 1 September 2026, while the comparison dataset was updated on 28 September 2026.

This distinction matters. An article can be updated on one date while the underlying tariff data comes from an earlier date.

Current Cheapest Tariff

Detail	Reference comparison
Supplier	Home Energy
Tariff	Fair Variable Dual
Type	Variable dual fuel
Estimated annual cost	£1,453
Monthly equivalent	About £121
Contract	No fixed term shown
Exit fee	£0
Electricity usage	2,500 kWh/year
Gas usage	9,500 kWh/year
Payment method	Monthly Direct Debit
Reference region	East Midlands
Underlying price date	1 September 2026

The £1,453 figure is a reference comparison, not a personalised quote.

Exact unit rates and standing charges can vary by region, payment method and meter type. Where the comparison data does not provide consistent national figures, it is better to avoid presenting an estimated number as though it applies to every household.

What Is the Cheapest Energy Tariff in the UK?

Based on the September 2026 comparison, Home Energy’s Fair Variable Dual had the lowest estimated annual cost among the qualifying tariffs reviewed.

However, there is an important difference between a supplier and a tariff.

Home Energy is the supplier.

Fair Variable Dual is the tariff.

A single supplier can offer multiple tariffs with different:

• electricity rates
• gas rates
• standing charges
• contract lengths
• exit fees
• payment methods
• eligibility requirements
• meter requirements
• pricing structures

That means asking:

“Which energy supplier is cheapest?”

does not always give you the most useful answer.

A better question is:

“Which tariff available to my household gives me the lowest total annual cost?”

For example, the September comparison included British Gas’s Cap Tracker Plus Sep27 v1 at an estimated £1,551, while other British Gas tariffs had different prices.

The supplier name alone does not determine the cost.

The specific tariff does.

Cheapest Energy Supplier by Tariff Type

Different households may prioritise different types of energy deals.

What you are comparing	Lowest qualifying September result	Estimated annual cost	Main consideration
Cheapest overall	Home Energy Fair Variable Dual	£1,453	Variable pricing
Cheapest variable	Home Energy Fair Variable Dual	£1,453	Rates can change
Cheapest tracker	Outfox Price Cap Tracker 12M Dual V3	£1,481	£150 exit fee
Cheapest fixed	Fuse August 2026 Fixed 18m V15	£1,489	18-month commitment
Cheapest no-exit-fee option	Home Energy Fair Variable Dual	£1,453	Variable pricing
Lowest-priced major-supplier fixed tariff in this dataset	E.ON Next Fixed 24m Exclusive v11	£1,510	24-month term and exit fee

The cheapest overall option and cheapest fixed option are therefore different.

Fixed vs Variable vs Tracker Tariffs

A fixed tariff generally locks the tariff’s energy rates for the agreed contract period, subject to the terms of the product.

A variable tariff can change, so the rates are not fixed for the entire contract. 

A tracker tariff follows a defined reference according to its specific tariff terms.

This creates different trade-offs.

Tariff type	Main characteristic	What to check
Fixed	Greater price certainty	Contract length and exit fees
Variable	Rates can change	Future price movements
Tracker	Price follows a defined reference	Tracker formula and exit fee

So the cheapest tariff in a comparison does not necessarily provide the type of price certainty you want.

Which Energy Supplier Is Cheapest for Low, Medium, and High Usage?

There is no reliable market-wide winner for every usage level without running the entire eligible tariff market against each consumption profile.

Ofgem’s current typical domestic consumption values are:

Usage profile	Electricity	Gas
Low	1,600 kWh/year	6,000 kWh/year
Medium	2,500 kWh/year	9,500 kWh/year
High	3,800 kWh/year	14,000 kWh/year

Ofgem updated the Typical Domestic Consumption Values in 2026 to better reflect household energy consumption.

Why Your Usage Changes the Result

For a low-use household, standing charges make up a larger part of the total bill.

For a high-use household, unit rates become increasingly important because every pence-per-kWh difference is multiplied across more energy.

For example:

• A 10p-a-day standing-charge difference equals about £36.50 a year.
• A 2p/kWh electricity-rate difference across 3,800 kWh equals £76 a year.

This is why the cheapest standing charge does not automatically produce the cheapest annual bill.

The same applies to unit rates.

The best comparison looks at the total annual cost based on your actual consumption.

Why 2026 Energy Comparisons Can Show Different Prices

One important issue when comparing energy articles published in 2026 is the change in Ofgem’s typical consumption assumptions.

Older comparisons commonly used:

• 2,700 kWh electricity
• 11,500 kWh gas

The updated medium-use figures are:

• 2,500 kWh electricity
• 9,500 kWh gas

This means two annual energy estimates can look very different even if they are based on broadly similar underlying prices.

The difference can come from the amount of energy assumed in the calculation.

So when comparing two energy articles, check:

1. Electricity usage.
2. Gas usage.
3. Region or postcode.
4. Payment method.
5. Meter type.
6. Tariff type.
7. Date the tariff prices were checked.

A lower annual figure does not automatically mean the supplier has become cheaper.

The calculation may simply be using different consumption assumptions.

Which Energy Supplier Has the Lowest Standing Charge?

There is no permanent national winner for the lowest standing charge.

Standing charges vary according to factors such as:

• region
• tariff
• payment method
• meter type

For low-use households, standing charges can have a particularly noticeable impact because the fixed daily cost is spread across fewer units of energy.

But a lower standing charge can be outweighed by a higher unit rate.

For example:

Saving 10p per day on standing charges:

£0.10 × 365 = £36.50 a year

But:

Paying 2p more per kWh across 3,800 kWh:

£0.02 × 3,800 = £76 a year

The second difference is larger.

So we recommend comparing:

Standing charge + unit rates + total annual cost

rather than choosing a tariff based on the standing charge alone.

Why Your Postcode Can Change the Cheapest Energy Supplier

Your postcode can affect the price you pay for energy.

Ofgem’s published energy price information shows that actual unit rates and standing charges vary by region, payment method and meter type.

A useful example is the regional pricing of the Outfox Price Cap Tracker.

Region	Electricity	Electricity standing charge	Gas	Gas standing charge
East Midlands	22.271p/kWh	53.60p/day	6.569p/kWh	28.78p/day
Merseyside & North Wales	23.736p/kWh	70.76p/day	6.655p/kWh	29.42p/day

The electricity standing charge differs by more than 17p a day.

Across a year, that is more than £62 from the standing charge alone.

That is why a national statement such as:

“Supplier X is the cheapest energy supplier in the UK“

should always be considered alongside the postcode, usage and payment assumptions behind the calculation.

Why Two Current Energy Comparison Sites Can Show Different Prices

You may check two comparison websites on the same day and see different annual prices.

That does not automatically mean one website is wrong.

They may be using different assumptions.

Factor	Why it can change the result
Postcode	Regional rates and standing charges differ
Pricing date	Suppliers can launch or withdraw tariffs
Annual usage	Changes the impact of unit rates
Payment method	Direct Debit and other payment methods can differ
Meter type	Some tariffs require specific meter types
Cashback	Can affect first-year costs
Eligibility	Some tariffs have specific conditions
Exclusive deals	Some offers may only be available through particular channels
Regional averaging	A national average differs from a postcode-specific calculation

The September comparison used an East Midlands representative postcode and medium-use consumption assumptions.

Another comparison could use regional averages or a different postcode.

Both can therefore produce different estimates.

The important question is not simply:

“Which website has the lower price?”

It is:

“What assumptions were used to calculate that price?”

How Does the Cheapest Tariff Compare With the Ofgem Price Cap?

From 1 October to 31 December 2026, Ofgem’s price-cap benchmark is £1,723 a year for a typical household paying by Direct Debit across England, Scotland and Wales.

The average published rates are:

Price-cap component	1 October to 31 December 2026
Electricity unit rate	26.32p/kWh
Electricity standing charge	54.83p/day
Gas unit rate	7.97p/kWh
Gas standing charge	29.68p/day
Typical annual benchmark	£1,723

The £1,723 figure is a typical annual benchmark, not a maximum household bill.

Your actual bill depends on how much energy you use and the rates applicable to your circumstances.

Electricity VAT Change in October 2026

From 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, domestic electricity is temporarily subject to 0% VAT, while domestic gas continues to include 5% VAT.

This change is reflected in Ofgem’s published price-cap figures.

Is the £1,453 Tariff £270 Cheaper Than the Price Cap?

The simple mathematical difference is:

£1,723 − £1,453 = £270

However, this should not be described as a guaranteed £270 saving.

The £1,453 comparison uses an East Midlands representative postcode, while the £1,723 Ofgem figure represents average rates across England, Scotland and Wales.

Therefore:

The £270 difference is useful market context, but it is not a like-for-like personalised saving.

This distinction is important whenever price-cap figures are compared with individual tariff estimates.

Why Energy Tariffs Change So Quickly

Energy tariffs can be:

• launched
• withdrawn
• repriced
• replaced
• made exclusive
• given new eligibility requirements

This means the cheapest tariff can change quickly.

The September comparison itself illustrates why pricing dates matter.

The lowest qualifying price in the September dataset was £1,453, while earlier comparison data showed different tariff pricing.

That is why we believe a useful energy comparison should always show when the underlying tariff prices were actually checked.

Changing an article’s “updated” date without checking the tariff data does not make old prices current.

How Energy Solutions Compares Energy Costs

At Energy Solutions, we do not look at an individual energy rate in isolation.

Our approach is to consider the overall pricing structure, including unit rates, standing charges, contract terms and the customer’s expected energy consumption.

This is particularly important because a tariff with a lower headline unit rate can still produce a higher total cost.

We have seen this through our commercial energy work.

In one anonymised hospitality case, a competing quote had a lower headline unit rate, but its higher standing charges and overall pricing structure meant the estimated annual cost was around £900–£1,200 higher.

This was a business energy contract, not a domestic household tariff, so that saving should not be applied directly to household energy comparisons.

The wider lesson is relevant to both domestic and business energy:

A lower unit rate does not automatically mean a lower total energy bill.

For household energy, we recommend checking:

• Estimated annual cost
• Electricity unit rate
• Gas unit rate
• Electricity standing charge
• Gas standing charge
• Contract length
• Exit fees
• Eligibility
• Meter requirements
• Cashback or temporary credits

The total cost is more useful than focusing on one number.

How We Compare Energy Tariffs

The main ranking in this article uses the latest comparable September 2026 market dataset we could verify.

It is important to distinguish between market data and Energy Solutions’ own experience.

The ranking data comes from the external comparison dataset.

The practical guidance about comparing total energy costs reflects the experience of the Energy Solutions team.

Comparison assumptions

Methodology	Assumption
Comparison dataset	September 2026
Dataset updated	28 September 2026
Underlying tariff prices checked	1 September 2026
Reference region	East Midlands
Electricity consumption	2,500 kWh/year
Gas consumption	9,500 kWh/year
Payment method	Monthly Direct Debit
Fuel	Dual fuel
Meter assumption	Standard single-rate
Comparison basis	Estimated annual cost
Personalised quote	No

At a basic level, an annual energy estimate reflects:

Electricity usage × electricity unit rate

plus

Electricity standing charge

plus

Gas usage × gas unit rate

plus

Gas standing charge

Tariff-specific discounts, credits and other conditions can then affect the final calculation.

Your actual cheapest tariff can therefore be different from the national or regional reference result.

How We Treat Cashback and Switching Credits

A switching credit can make a tariff look cheaper during its first year without changing the underlying energy rates.

For example:

Cost	Tariff A	Tariff B
Ongoing annual energy cost	£1,600	£1,570
Switching credit	£50	£0
First-year cost after credit	£1,550	£1,570

Tariff A is £20 cheaper in the first year after the credit.

However, its underlying energy cost is £30 higher.

This is why we prefer to show promotional credits separately from the underlying tariff cost.

When comparing energy deals, check whether the headline saving depends on:

• cashback
• introductory credit
• switching bonus
• annual account credit
• limited-time promotion

A first-year saving is not necessarily a permanent saving.

Cheapest Energy Supplier Does Not Always Mean Cheapest Overall Cost

At Energy Solutions, one of the recurring issues we see when comparing energy contracts is that people can focus too heavily on a single headline rate.

For example, a lower electricity unit rate may look attractive.

But if the tariff has a significantly higher standing charge, longer commitment or other costs, the overall annual cost may be higher.

This is why our approach focuses on the complete cost structure.

For a domestic tariff, consider:

What to check	Why it matters
Estimated annual cost	Gives the clearest overall comparison
Electricity unit rate	Important for electricity-heavy households
Gas unit rate	Important for gas-heavy households
Standing charges	Particularly relevant to low-use households
Contract length	Determines how long you are committed
Exit fee	Can affect the cost of switching again
Tariff type	Fixed, variable or tracker
Eligibility	Not every tariff is available to everyone
Meter requirements	Some tariffs require specific meters
Cashback	May only affect the first year

The objective is not simply to find the lowest number in a table.

It is to understand what that number represents.

How to Find the Cheapest Energy Deal for Your Home

1. Check your annual electricity and gas usage

Use your latest energy bill and find your annual consumption in kWh.

Actual usage is more useful than estimating consumption from your monthly Direct Debit.

2. Check your meter type

Find out whether you have:

• Standard single-rate
• Economy 7
• Smart meter
• Another multi-rate meter

Your meter type can affect which tariffs are available and how they should be compared.

3. Use your postcode

Energy pricing varies by region.

A postcode-specific comparison is therefore more useful than relying entirely on a national average.

4. Compare annual costs

Look at the estimated annual cost rather than comparing only the electricity unit rate.

Include:

• electricity
• gas
• standing charges
• discounts
• credits
• other tariff conditions

5. Check the contract terms

Before switching, check:

• contract length
• exit fees
• eligibility
• smart-meter requirements
• payment method
• cashback
• introductory credits

This gives you a more realistic picture of the deal.

Should You Switch to the Cheapest Energy Tariff?

Not necessarily.

A tariff appearing first in a comparison does not automatically mean it is the right option for your household.

In the September comparison, Home Energy’s Fair Variable Dual had the lowest estimated annual cost and no listed exit fee under the stated assumptions.

However, it is a variable tariff, meaning the rates can change.

Fuse Energy’s lowest-priced fixed tariff was slightly more expensive at £1,489, but it offered an 18-month fixed structure with a listed £100 exit fee.

These are different types of products.

When considering a switch, compare:

Personalised annual saving + tariff type + contract length + exit fee + eligibility

rather than simply choosing the supplier with the lowest headline price.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the cheapest energy supplier in the UK right now?

In the latest comparable September 2026 dataset reviewed for this guide, Home Energy’s Fair Variable Dual had the lowest estimated annual cost at approximately £1,453 under the stated East Midlands, medium-use and monthly Direct Debit assumptions.

Your own cheapest tariff may be different.

What is the cheapest fixed energy tariff?

Fuse Energy’s August 2026 Fixed 18m V15 was the lowest-priced qualifying fixed tariff in the September comparison at an estimated £1,489 a year, with an 18-month term and a listed £100 exit fee.

What is the cheapest variable energy tariff?

Home Energy’s Fair Variable Dual was the lowest-priced qualifying variable tariff in the September comparison at approximately £1,453 a year.

It had no fixed term shown and no exit fee under the comparison data.

Is the cheapest energy supplier the same for everyone?

No.

Your postcode, energy consumption, payment method, meter type and tariff eligibility can all affect the result.

What is the Ofgem price cap in October 2026?

From 1 October to 31 December 2026, Ofgem’s typical Direct Debit benchmark is £1,723 a year for England, Scotland and Wales.

The published average rates are 26.32p/kWh for electricity and 7.97p/kWh for gas, with standing charges of 54.83p a day for electricity and 29.68p a day for gas.

Is £1,723 the maximum energy bill?

No.

The price cap limits the rates that suppliers can charge on qualifying default tariffs.

Your total bill depends on how much energy you use.

Does my postcode affect energy prices?

Yes.

Regional unit rates and standing charges can differ, so the cheapest tariff in one region may not be the cheapest tariff in another.

Is a fixed energy tariff cheaper than the price cap?

Some fixed tariffs can be below the Ofgem benchmark.

In the September comparison, Fuse Energy’s £1,489 fixed tariff was below the £1,723 Ofgem typical-use benchmark for October to December 2026.

However, the two figures are based on different comparison frameworks, so the difference should not be treated as a guaranteed saving.

Is dual fuel always cheaper?

No.

Using one supplier for both gas and electricity can be convenient, but there is no universal rule that dual fuel is always cheaper.

Compare the combined annual cost against separate suppliers.

Which energy tariff is cheapest for low usage?

There is no universal winner.

Low-use households should pay particular attention to standing charges because those fixed costs are spread across fewer units of energy.

Which energy tariff is cheapest for high usage?

High-use households should pay particular attention to unit rates because even small pence-per-kWh differences can become significant across thousands of kWh.

There is no single universal high-use winner.

Why do energy comparison websites show different prices?

Different websites may use different:

• postcodes
• usage assumptions
• payment methods
• meter types
• pricing dates
• eligibility rules
• cashback assumptions
• tariff datasets

Always check the methodology behind the headline price.

How often do energy tariffs change?

Competitive tariffs can be launched, withdrawn or repriced at any time.

This is why a reliable comparison should show when the underlying tariff prices were checked.

How can I find my actual cheapest energy tariff?

Use your actual annual electricity and gas consumption, postcode, meter type and payment method to obtain a personalised comparison.

Then check the tariff’s contract length, exit fee, eligibility and any promotional credits before switching.

Final Takeaway: Who Is Cheapest?

In the latest comparable September 2026 dataset reviewed for this article, Home Energy’s Fair Variable Dual had the lowest estimated annual cost at £1,453 under the stated assumptions.

The cheapest qualifying fixed tariff was Fuse Energy’s August 2026 Fixed 18m V15 at £1,489.

But there is no single tariff that is guaranteed to be cheapest for every household.

Your result can change based on:

• postcode
• electricity usage
• gas usage
• meter type
• payment method
• tariff eligibility
• standing charges
• unit rates
• contract length
• exit fees
• cashback and temporary credits

At Energy Solutions, our experience is that comparing the whole cost structure is more useful than focusing on one headline rate.

So instead of asking only:

“Which energy supplier is cheapest?”

ask:

“Which available tariff gives my household the lowest total annual cost based on my actual usage, postcode and tariff requirements?”

That is the comparison that can help you make a more informed switching decision.