In Great Britain, compare a fixed energy tariff with your current standard variable tariff (SVT) by applying each option’s unit rates and standing charges to your own annual electricity and gas use, then checking contract length, exit fees and eligibility. A fixed tariff locks agreed rates for a stated term; an SVT’s rates can change and are covered by Ofgem’s price cap. Neither option is guaranteed to cost less over time.
What fixed and variable energy tariffs mean
Fixed tariffs lock rates, not bills
A fixed tariff holds its agreed unit rates and daily standing charges for the contract period. Your bill can still rise or fall with the amount of energy you use. A fixed tariff is not protected by future changes to the SVT price cap while its contract rates apply.
Standard variable tariffs can change
An SVT has rates that can change. In Great Britain, Ofgem’s price cap limits covered unit rates and standing charges, and is reviewed every three months. The cap does not set a maximum total bill: using more energy can mean paying more. A fixed offer is governed by its contract rather than the cap.
How to compare tariffs using your own usage
- Find your annual usage. Get the last 12 months of electricity and gas consumption in kilowatt-hours (kWh) from your bills or supplier account. If you cannot find actual usage, use an estimate and label it as one.
- Record the full terms of each offer. Note electricity and gas unit rates, daily standing charges, payment method, meter requirements, contract end date and any exit fee. Check whether rates stay fixed for the whole term and what happens when it ends.
- Estimate annual costs on the same basis. For each fuel, calculate: (annual kWh × unit rate) + (365 × daily standing charge). Add fees or discounts only where the offer terms make their application clear. If you buy both fuels under one offer, add the two fuel estimates.
- Compare with your actual current SVT. Use the rates that apply to your region, payment method and meter, rather than a generic headline. Ofgem publishes region-specific price-cap tables: check whether the price cap affects you.
- Weigh price against flexibility. Assess the estimated cost separately from how much you value stable rates. An SVT can rise or fall as its rates change; a fixed deal can become less attractive if market rates fall, and some fixed contracts charge an exit fee.
- Check what comes next. Read the fixed tariff’s end-of-term and rollover terms, along with the current switching conditions and exit fee. Do not assume that a fixed contract will automatically end on terms you prefer.
A useful decision rule is to compare the fixed offer after standing charges and any applicable fees, then decide whether its rate certainty is worth the contract duration and exit terms. There is no reliable universal break-even answer without your usage and a live offer.
#1 Best Overall
- Various Monitoring Parameters: The power meter plug can monitor the power (W), energy (kWh), volts, amps, hertz, power factor, cost, minimum and maximum power (W), cumulative days and time of your appliances. By switching 7 display modes, you can easily know the various parameters while the appliance is working. The home energy monitor can also calculate and display how much power your appliance uses and how much electricity bill it cost in cumulative time
- Upgraded LCD Display: With large screen size 2.36 inch x 1.85 inch, clearer monitor backlit, our electrical usage monitor can display the data clearer and more visible no matter day or night. 180°full wide viewing angles is great for reading and recording the data in any angles. No need to stand on the front of the display and bend over to read the numbers
- Adjustable Backlight Time: Our upgraded watt meter has 5 options of backlight time. The default backlight time duration is 10 minutes(bL-0). If you want to change the backlight time, you can press and hold "UP" and "DOWN" button at the same time to enter backlight time setting, then press "UP" and "DOWN" to select the backlight time (bL-0 =10 minutes, bL-1=1 hour, bL-2=4 hours, bL-3=8 hours, bL-4=always on), finally press the "COST" to save the backlight time settings
- Overload protection: When the power of the appliance exceeds the overload power, the LCD will display “OVERLOAD” to warn the user. All the buttons will quit working and can only be workable when you lower or remove the load power. The default overload power is 3680W and is adjustable from 0 to 3680W. In general, you need to set the overload power to 1800W before using. Just press the "function" button for more than 3 seconds to enter the setting
- Data Memory Function: The wattage meter will record your power consumption data when you remove it from socket, or remove appliances from the electricity monitor. You can directly see the last data when you use it next time. This function can also automatically save the data when there is a sudden power failure
Should you fix your energy tariff or stay on the price cap?
Choose based on the specific offers available to you, not on a forecast that prices will move in one direction. A fixed tariff may suit someone who values predictable rates and accepts the contract terms. An SVT may suit someone who wants to avoid a fixed-term commitment and accepts that rates can change. The cap limits covered rates and standing charges during each cap period; it is not an annual promise about future costs.
For context—not as a current deal comparison—Ofgem’s January 2026 State of the Market report said the cheapest tariff was approximately £265 below the cap as of October 2025, and around one-third of customers were on fixed-term tariffs by July 2025. Those are dated observations, not today’s price gap or a guarantee that a cheaper fixed offer is available.
Rank #2
- SAFETY YOU CAN TRUST WITH UL CERTIFICATION: With Emporia Energy, your home energy monitoring is safe, reliable, and certified. The Emporia Vue is UL Listed, meaning it has met rigorous safety standards for electrical products in the U.S. and Canada. This certification ensures that every component has been thoroughly tested to prevent hazards, such as overheating, short-circuiting, or fire, offering you peace of mind as you manage your home’s energy consumption.
- INSTALLS IN CIRCUIT PANEL of most homes with clamp-on sensors. Supports Single phase, Single-split phase, and 2-wire systems. 3-wire systems; 3-phase, 4-wire Wye systems with earthed (TN or TT) neutral (no-Delta) are supported with an additional 200A sensor (sold separately).
- 24/7 ENERGY MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING: Automate, manage and control your home's real power anywhere, anytime to prevent costly repairs, conserve energy, and save costs. Monitor solar / net metering. PROTECTED BY A 1-YEAR WARRANTY.
- LOWER YOUR ELECTRIC BILL: Configure settings in the Emporia Energy App to automate energy management for time of use, peak demand, excess solar, and rewards programs. You can even see live reporting and invaluable savings opportunities instantly. Gauge real-time spending and get actionable notifications and automated energy management to help you reduce costs.
- REAL-TIME ENERGY DATA: REQUIRES 2.4 GHz WIFI WITH AN INTERNET CONNECTION to monitor energy use with iPhone / Android / Web app. Vue sensors collect energy data and are accurate from ±2%. The Vue is UL and CE Listed for your safety. 1 second data is only available in the app (when actively open) and retained 3 hours. Minute and hour data are retained in the cloud. 1 minute data is retained 7 days, 1 hour data is retained indefinitely. Export cloud data whenever you want in the app.
Great Britain price-cap figures for 1 October–31 December 2026
Ofgem’s average Direct Debit figures for England, Scotland and Wales in this quarter are shown below. The typical annual dual-fuel amount is an illustration based on average rates and standing charges, not a ceiling on an individual household’s bill.
| Measure | Ofgem figure | What it represents |
|---|---|---|
| Typical annual dual-fuel bill | £1,723 | Average-rate Direct Debit illustration for 1 October–31 December 2026; not a limit on total household spending. |
| Electricity unit rate | 26.32p/kWh | Average Direct Debit rate for the stated quarter. |
| Electricity standing charge | 54.83p/day | Average Direct Debit charge for the stated quarter. |
| Gas unit rate | 7.97p/kWh | Average Direct Debit rate for the stated quarter. |
| Gas standing charge | 29.68p/day | Average Direct Debit charge for the stated quarter. |
Ofgem said the cap rose 4% from the preceding period for a typical dual-fuel Direct Debit household. The figures above are averages; actual cap rates vary by region, fuel, payment method and meter type. Ofgem’s rate table provides regional figures: view the price-cap rates and regional information.
Rank #3
- Multi-function power monitor: Our electric usage monitor can monitor the power (W), electricity(kWh), voltage(V), frequency(Hz), current(A), power factor(PF), unit price($/kWh), total cost($) of your appliances. By switching 8 display modes, you can easily know the various parameters while the appliance is working. The “electricity” mode can calculate and display how much power your appliance uses. And the “total cost” mode will show how much electricity bill it cost in cumulative time
- Overload protection: When the loading power of the appliance is over the default overload threshold 1800W, the whole display with backlight and the word “OVERLOAD” will keep flashing to warn the users. Please turn off the appliance for safety concern
- Premium Material: The whole body of our energy meter is made of high-quality ABS material. It makes our home electricity usage monitor more long lasting, fireproof and anti-drop. The standard US socket and plug is suitable for all US standard appliances
- Backlight Display: With white backlight and black words, the LCD display of our home power monitor can display the data clearer and help you to read the data easier no matter day or night. The backlight will only lights up when the device is connected to AC power. If no button is pressed, the backlight turns off automatically after 10 minutes. You can also press the "UP" button to turn off the backlight manually, and press any button to turn on backlight again
- Easy to reset: No reset tool needed, our appliance power usage meter is easy to reset. You can press the “M” button for 5 seconds directly to reset the device. After reset, all cumulative data (electricity quantity, cost) will be cleared, and all settings will be restored to factory settings
VAT treatment also changed: Ofgem’s rate table says electricity has no VAT from 1 October 2026 through 31 March 2027, while gas includes 5% VAT. Ofgem warns that costs cannot be compared directly with earlier periods because of this change. These quarter-specific rates are not a forecast of later cap periods.
What to check before signing a fixed deal
- Exit fees: They vary by contract; check the actual terms rather than assuming a fee applies or does not apply. Ofgem’s consumer guidance discusses customers’ understanding of exit fees, but a survey finding cannot establish the terms of your offer: Ofgem consumer research on energy bills and tariffs.
- End-of-term terms: Confirm the tariff’s end date and what rate or tariff would apply if you do not switch or renew.
- Eligibility: Check that your payment method, meter and location qualify for the quoted tariff.
- Usage assumptions: Treat a supplier’s headline annual cost as a standardized illustration unless it is calculated from your own kWh.
Why the price cap does not tell you which tariff will be cheaper
The cap is a limit on covered unit rates and standing charges for SVTs, not a cap on total consumption costs. A fixed deal sits outside that future cap protection during its term, but its contract rates are agreed in advance. Since the cap is reset periodically and fixed offers vary, today’s comparison cannot establish which will cost less over a future period.
Rank #4
- ⚡ EASY INSTALLATION: Installs in circuit panel of most homes with clamp-on sensors. Supports single-phase up to 240VAC line-neutral; single, split-phase 120/240VAC; and three-phase up to 415Y/240VAC (no Delta). The branch lines can automatically match different phases and have no restrictions in terms of quantity and voltage.Panels with access only to busbars will need flexible sensors available from SEM-Meter.
- ⚡ ENERGY MONITORING ANYTIME, ANYWHERE: Monitor your home's real power anywhere, anytime to prevent costly repairs, conserve energy, and save costs. Monitor solar / net metering. Light commercial 3 phase option available as a separate bundle. Protected by a 1-year warranty.
- ⚡ VARIOUS ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE MONITORING: Comes with 16 50A sensors to accurately monitor your air conditioner, furnace, water heater, washer, dryer, range, etc.
- ⚡ LOWER YOUR ELECTRIC BILL: SEM-Meter measures real-time spending and gets actionable notifications to understand where savings can be made, both to lower your electric bill and to conserve energy and protect the planet’s resources. Be an environmentalist.
- ⚡ REAL-TIME ENERGY DATA: Connect SEM-Meter device via 2.4GHz WiFi to monitor energy usage, with an accuracy range of 1%. View usage in real time through Android/Apple software. Statistics of power usage in now/day/week/month/year format: the validity period of hourly exported data is 90 days, and the exported data of day/month/year data is permanent, available at any time Export from application.
Ofgem’s consumer guidance explains the cap and standing charges, including that “It does not limit the cost of your total bill.” Read the explanation here: Ofgem’s explanation of the energy price cap and standing charges.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Control Your Appliances and Devices: Control lights, fans, lamps, humidifiers, and any other appliances or electronics that plug into 120V outlets with a 10A Maximum Continuous Load (15A Max Peak Load for up to 1hr/day)
- Monitor Your Home Energy Like a Pro: Emporia smart plugs let you stay on top of energy used by your devices and appliances. Eliminate wasteful stand-by power, save on electricity, and extend product life.
- Smart Scheduling for Maximum Control: With built in on/off scheduling capability, use your smart plugs to automatically switch on and off appliances and devices. Want freshly brewed coffee at 7am? Just schedule it with an Emporia plug!
- Remote Control. Anytime, Anywhere. Control your home remotely using the Emporia App on your phone. Leave the lights on? Forget to turn off an appliance? Check the real-time status and toggle it on or off anytime, anywhere!
- Requires 2.4GHz Wifi Connection to control your devices remotely from your phone with an internet connection. 5.0 GHz Wifi networks are not supported.
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