COMPARE ENERGY & SAVE

Energy is one of the largest fixed costs for most households and one of the least reviewed. Before comparing, it helps to know what you pay now, how much you use and when your contract ends.

WHAT TO CHECK

Your annual usage in kWh and cubic metres, shown on your yearly statement.
The difference between a fixed contract and a variable rate, and what that means for risk.
Your current contract end date and any early exit fee.
Standing charges and grid costs alongside the headline unit rate.
Whether solar feed-in is relevant to your situation.
Whether your monthly instalment matches your actual usage, so you are not overpaying in advance.

WHAT YOU COMPARE ON ENERGY

An energy offer is never one number. As long as you only look at the kWh rate or the monthly amount, you are not comparing like for like. These parts together make up your annual bill.

Electricity rate per kWh, often split into peak and off peak if you have a dual meter.
Gas rate per cubic metre, and whether your home uses gas at all.
Standing supply charges per month or year, regardless of how much you use.
Grid operator costs. These are fixed per region and identical across suppliers, so there is no difference to find there.
Energy tax and the tax reduction, both settled in your annual statement.
Feed in compensation and any feed in charges if you have solar panels.
Contract terms: length, early exit fee and what happens when the term ends.
Welcome bonuses or discounts, and whether they are one off or built into the rate.

FIXED, VARIABLE OR DYNAMIC

The contract type mainly decides how much price movement lands on your plate. No type is best for everyone. The question is which uncertainty you can carry.

WORK OUT YOUR USAGE

Without your usage you cannot compare. Comparison sites work with an estimate, and a wrong estimate gives a wrong answer.

Take your last annual statement and note your usage in kWh and in cubic metres of gas.
Lived there less than a year? Use the meter readings for the period you do have and scale them to a full year.
Correct for changes: someone moving in or out, working from home, a heat pump, an electric car or new insulation.
Then compare every offer on estimated annual cost at your usage, not on the comparison site's default profile.

PRACTICAL WAYS TO LOWER ENERGY COSTS

Switching is only part of the story. Lowering usage keeps paying off under every contract you will ever sign.

Read your meters monthly. People who see their usage almost always use less.
Check that your monthly instalment matches reality. Too high means lending your supplier money, too low means a bill later.
Look at the big users at home: heating, hot water, tumble dryer, old fridges and freezers.
Small fixes are free or cheap: radiator foil, draught strips, shorter showers, washing cooler, the thermostat one degree lower.
Bigger work such as insulation or glazing costs money up front. Check national or municipal schemes before you commission anything.
If you cannot pay your energy bill, do not wait. Contact your supplier and ask your municipality about support.

CONTRACT TYPES SIDE BY SIDE

Three types, three kinds of risk. Choose based on your buffer and how much you want to track prices.

Type	Suits you if	Watch out for
Fixed contract	You want certainty about your monthly costs for a set period.	You do not benefit if market prices fall, and leaving early can cost an exit fee.
Variable contract	You want to stay flexible and can absorb changes.	Rates can change periodically, so your monthly costs are not locked in.
Dynamic contract	You can shift usage to cheaper hours and follow prices actively.	Prices change by hour or day. This needs attention and a buffer for expensive periods.

STEPS

01Get your statementNote your usage, your current rates and your monthly instalment.
02Calculate per yearCompare total annual cost including standing charges, not isolated rates.
03Decide deliberatelyChoose fixed or variable based on how much fluctuation you can absorb, not on a promotion.

Rates change constantly. Always check the current terms with the supplier before signing anything.

READY TO COMPARE SUPPLIERS

With your annual usage, your current rates and your contract end date at hand you can compare properly. We will place a comparison option here later. Until then, compare through an independent comparison service or directly with suppliers.

We will only add a comparison option here once it has been approved. There is deliberately no link yet.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Does switching always save money?: No. Whether switching helps depends on your current rates, your usage, the timing and any exit fee. Work it out on an annual basis before you sign anything.
Is fixed or variable better?: It depends on how much movement you can carry. Fixed gives calm and predictability, variable gives flexibility. Choose on your buffer, not on a prediction about the market.
What if I am mid contract?: With a fixed term contract, leaving early can cost an exit fee. Find that figure in your terms and include it in the comparison.
Why does my instalment differ from my actual costs?: The instalment is an advance based on estimated usage, settled in the annual statement. If the estimate is wrong you can ask for it to be adjusted.
I cannot pay my energy bill. What now?: Contact your supplier as soon as possible about a payment arrangement and ask your municipality what support exists. The earlier you speak up, the more room there is.

KEEP READING

Cut your fixed costsThe wider approach to everything that leaves monthly.Budget ResetPut income and fixed costs side by side.Debt and moneyWhen the bills arrive faster than you can pay them.

ARTICLES

In-depth guides and checklists per category will appear here as they are finished.

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