Executive summary
This report focuses on one question: which suppliers give households the best value in 2026? We rank suppliers purely on total annual cost and tariff fairness for typical usage, as a cost-first companion to our full performance report.
Value leaders combine competitive unit rates with fair standing charges and no punitive exit fees.
Key findings
- The cheapest headline unit rate is not always the best total-cost deal once standing charges are included.
- Mid-size suppliers frequently offer the strongest value fixes.
- Exit fees can erode the value of an otherwise cheap tariff.
How we rank value
We calculate the total annual cost for typical dual-fuel usage in each region, combining unit rates and standing charges, then adjust for tariff fairness factors such as exit fees.
This gives a like-for-like comparison rather than a misleading headline-rate ranking.
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Methodology
- Total annual cost uses Ofgem Typical Domestic Consumption Values applied to current regional tariffs.
- Tariff fairness adjusts for exit fees and contract terms.
Sources & references
- Ofgem — Energy price cap — UK regulator's quarterly price cap announcements
- Ofgem — Typical Domestic Consumption Values — Standard usage assumptions for UK households
- Citizens Advice — Energy supplier comparison — Independent supplier guidance & complaints data
Figures are checked against primary sources before publication. See our methodology for details.
