Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE) has launched a new dual fuel energy tariff which is now the cheapest on the market.
The Discount Energy Bonus April 2015 will cost around £1,146 a year, making it £4 cheaper than the next best deal – the isave Dual Fuel v14 from First Utility - which costs nearer £1,150 a year.
The new deal from SSE is a discounted variable product, meaning the gas and electricity costs aren’t set in stone.
That said, prices on the Discounted Energy Bonus April 2015 are guaranteed to be 11% cheaper than SSE’s standard energy rates until 31st March 2014 and then 2% cheaper until the 1st of April 2015.
Big six
For a while now smaller companies like First Utility and Co-op Energy have been dominating the top spots on the best buy tables.
The new tariff from SSE makes it the only large supplier in the top five at the moment.
SSE’s new deal is £36 cheaper than the next cheapest energy plan from a big six supplier, EDF’s Blue +Price Promise June 2014, which costs £1,182 a year. However, the plan from EDF is fixed, offering protection from price rises until June 2014.
Fixed vs. variable
After a raft of price hikes last year some may prefer to fix the prices they pay for energy to protect their finances.
In which case the cheapest fixed price deal currently comes from First Utility’s iSave Fixed v6 April 2014 and costs £1,170 a year.
The top ten cheapest energy tariffs
If you want to find out the best deal on offer in your area check out our energy comparison centre.
In the meantime here is a table with the top ten cheapest dual fuel energy plans around at the moment.
|
Supplier |
Tariff |
Average Cost |
Savings* |
Type |
Notes |
Cancellation Penalties |
|
SSE |
£1,146 |
£254 |
Discounted Variable |
Prices are guaranteed to be 11% cheaper until 31st March 2014, and 2% cheaper from 1st April 2014 until 1st April 2015. |
£50 if you switch away before 1st April 2015 |
|
|
First Utility |
£1,150 |
£250 |
Discounted Variable |
Prices fixed for three months then variable. |
£30 per fuel until end of three month fix then no penalty |
|
|
Co-op Energy |
£1,157 |
£243 |
Standard |
Includes recent price drop. Available with paper bill at no extra cost. |
None |
|
|
First Utility |
£1,170 |
£230 |
Fixed |
Prices fixed until 30 April 2014 |
£30 per fuel until end of fix |
|
|
OVO Energy |
£1,172 |
£228 |
Fixed |
Prices fixed for 12 months |
£30 per fuel until end of fix |
|
|
EDF |
£1,182 |
£218 |
Fixed |
Prices fixed until 30 June 2014 |
None |
|
|
npower |
£1,182 |
£218 |
Fixed |
Customers on this tariff are guaranteed at least 2% lower bill than npower’s current Standard (off-line) variable prices until 31st August 2014 |
£30 per fuel until end of discount period |
|
|
BG |
£1,193 |
£207 |
Discounted Variable |
6% discount against Clear & Simple prices until 28th February 2014 |
£30 per fuel until end of discount period |
|
|
Sainsbury's Energy |
£1,193 |
£207 |
Discounted Variable |
6% discount against Clear & Simple prices until 31st January 2014 |
£30 per fuel until end of discount period |
|
|
ScottishPower |
£1,195 |
£205 |
Fixed |
Prices fixed until 31st August 2014 |
None |
Source: energyhelpline.com on 17/1/2013
All calculations are for an average usage dual fuel household paying by monthly direct debit. Average usage as defined by OFGEM is 16,500 kWh pa of gas and 3,300 kWh pa of electricity
*on a typical bill
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