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Energy guides

Plain-English articles on switching, bills, and tariffs for UK households.

  • UK household reviewing energy bill line items and hidden charges on a kitchen table
    Bills explained

    16 June 2026

    Hidden charges in energy bills: what to watch for

    A practical guide to often-missed energy bill costs, including standing charges, exit fees, deemed rates, VAT, estimated billing, and direct debit overpayments.

    6 min read

  • Person checking suspicious energy message alerts on a smartphone beside a utility bill
    Switching

    16 June 2026

    Energy switching scams: how to stay safe

    How to spot and avoid UK energy scams, including fake regulator contacts, doorstep fraud, cold calling, fake comparison sites, and unauthorised switching.

    6 min read

  • Person reviewing gas and electricity usage charts on a smartphone beside paper energy bills
    Bills explained

    15 June 2026

    How to read your energy bill

    A plain-English walkthrough of every section of your gas and electricity bill: unit rates, standing charges, meter reference numbers, and how to check if an estimated bill is right.

    7 min read

  • UK household reviewing the July 2026 Ofgem energy price cap increase on a bill and calculator
    Bills explained

    15 June 2026

    Energy price cap July 2026: what it means for your bills

    From 1 July 2026 the Ofgem energy price cap will rise to £1,862 for a typical household. This guide explains the new rates, how your bill could change, and what fixed tariffs mean before the cap takes effect.

    7 min read

  • Householder comparing fixed and variable UK energy tariffs before the July 2026 price cap rise
    Tariffs

    15 June 2026

    Should I fix my energy tariff before July 2026?

    The energy price cap will rise to £1,862 from 1 July 2026. This guide sets out the information you need to decide whether fixing your tariff makes sense for your household.

    8 min read

  • Printed energy bill and price cap paperwork on a wooden kitchen table in natural light
    Bills explained

    14 June 2026

    What is the Ofgem energy price cap?

    The price cap limits what suppliers can charge on variable tariffs, but does not cap your total bill. This guide explains how it works, how it changes, and what it means for your energy costs.

    6 min read

  • Householder reviewing an energy contract during the 14-day cooling-off period
    Switching

    12 June 2026

    Energy switch cooling-off period explained

    Your statutory right to cancel a new energy contract within 14 days of signing up, with no penalty. How to use this right in practice, and what happens if you cancel after your switch has already started.

    4 min read

  • Calendar marking the typical five working day UK energy switch timeline
    Switching

    11 June 2026

    How long does an energy switch take?

    A realistic timeline for a UK domestic energy switch, from submitting your application to your supply changing over. What happens on switch day itself, and how the 14-day cooling-off period fits into the timeline.

    4 min read

  • Traditional and smart energy meters in a UK property during a supplier switch
    Smart meters

    10 June 2026

    Do I need a smart meter to switch supplier?

    Whether having (or not having) a smart meter affects your ability to compare tariffs and switch in the UK. What changes for smart meter users during a switch, and what to expect if you don't have one yet.

    4 min read

  • Night-time electricity meter for an Economy 7 time-of-use tariff in the UK
    Tariffs

    8 June 2026

    What is Economy 7?

    How an Economy 7 meter charges a cheaper rate for around seven hours overnight and a higher rate during the day. Who tends to benefit from this type of tariff, and what to check before switching to one.

    4 min read

  • Family unpacking boxes in a new UK home with energy bills to arrange
    Moving home

    5 June 2026

    Switching energy when you move home

    What to do about gas and electricity on moving day, including who to contact, what readings to take, and how billing is handled at your old and new address. Covers whether you can take your tariff with you when you move.

    5 min read

  • Smart electricity meter on the wall of a UK home showing live usage
    Smart meters

    29 May 2026

    Smart meters and your energy bill

    How smart meters work, what SMETS1 and SMETS2 mean, and why some older smart meters lose smart functions when you switch supplier. Covers when suppliers may ask you to have one fitted and what it means for billing accuracy.

    5 min read

  • Wind turbines and solar panels representing renewable UK electricity tariffs
    Green energy

    22 May 2026

    What are green energy tariffs?

    How renewable electricity tariffs work in the UK, including what "100% renewable" actually guarantees through REGO certificates. What to check on a comparison result before assuming a tariff is greener than a standard one.

    4 min read

  • Comparison of fixed and variable UK energy tariff rates on a household bill
    Tariffs

    15 May 2026

    Fixed vs variable energy tariffs

    What it means for a tariff to be fixed or variable, and how each type behaves when wholesale prices or the Ofgem price cap change. Helps you understand the trade-off between price certainty and flexibility before you compare deals.

    5 min read

  • UK household energy bill showing unit rates and daily standing charges
    Bills explained

    8 May 2026

    Understanding unit rates and standing charges

    A plain-English breakdown of the two charges that make up every UK energy bill: the per-unit rate for what you use, and the daily standing charge for staying connected. Explains how both appear on bills and comparison results, and how Ofgem's price cap affects them.

    5 min read

  • Householder comparing UK energy suppliers on a laptop before switching tariff
    Switching

    1 May 2026

    How to switch your energy supplier in the UK

    Step-by-step guidance on comparing tariffs by postcode, choosing a plan, and completing your switch through a UK comparison service. Covers what to have ready before you start and what happens after you apply.

    7 min read

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