Top 10 Energy Suppliers in 2024
Which energy supplier has the best customer service?
Octopus Energy stands out as Which?’s top-recommended energy supplier in 2023. They excelled in all facets of the customer survey and clinched the top spot for customer service, complaint handling, and overall customer satisfaction. This distinction cements their position as the premier energy supplier in terms of customer service.
What makes the “best” energy supplier?
The definition of the ‘best’ energy supplier is subjective, varying based on individual preferences and circ*mstances.
Your ideal supplier may be one that offers a pay-as-you-go scheme, one that excels in supporting vulnerable customers, or perhaps one providing 100% renewable energy.
Let’s delve into some of the factors that might determine the ‘best’ energy supplier for different individuals.
Customer Service and Complaint Handling
Choosing an energy supplier renowned for outstanding customer service and efficient complaint handling is crucial.
It’s essential to have a supplier that offers prompt responses to any grievances and ensures swift resolutions at the first instance.
To gauge the performance of various suppliers, you can consult Trustpilot reviews, Google reviews, and the data from the Which? best energy supplier 2023.
Value for money
It’s essential to choose a supplier that offers good value for money. Use our home energy comparison tool to compare electricity prices and identify the supplier that provides the best value tailored to your household’s needs.
Green Energy
Opting for a home energy supplier that uses renewable energy will help you reduce your home’s carbon footprint.
Suppliers like Octopus, Good Energy, Ovo Energy, and EDF Energy, offer renewable energy or specific renewable energy tariffs.
How do I choose the best energy supplier?
With over 25 active home energy suppliers in the UK, selecting the most suitable one for your needs can be overwhelming.
Currently, switching to a new energy supplier is not an option unless you’re relocating to a new property.
However, we’ve provided some tips below to guide you in making the best choice when the opportunity arises.
Biggest Energy Suppliers
The UK’s biggest energy suppliers are collectively known as the “big six” and comprise of the following companies:
- British Gas
- EDF
- EON
- Ovo Energy
- SSE
- Scottish Power
But despite servicing over 70% of the UK’s home energy market, none of them stood out in the Which?’s Best Supplier of 2023 survey.
Their main advantage is that as large, diversified companies, they are more likely to weather challenging market conditions like the recent pandemic that made a number of energy suppliers go bust.
But as we witnessed in 2020, this makes no difference to customers, as in fact the costs of this event were borne by all customers.
Renewable Energy Suppliers
If you are looking to reduce your home’s direct carbon emissions, opting for a renewable energy supplier may be the way forward.
However, it’s important to note that there is no set definition of what makes a ‘green’ supplier or tariff, so make sure you understand the implications of the fuel mix used by the supplier.
Smart and Online Energy Suppliers
Suppliers like Boost and Utilita offer the ease of prepayment meters (essentially, pay-as-you-go) that can be topped up at any time using their handy app.
Similarly, Ovo Energy provides a free app that lets you keep track of your home’s energy, including the energy consumption of your home appliances.
Most energy suppliers offer smart meters to keep track of your energy usage via a digital network, simplifying the entire billing process.
British Gas, Ovo Energy, Shell and Scottish Power also offer Smart Home products, like smart thermostats, smart plugs, motion sensors, smart light bulbs, and home camera systems.
Energy and Utility Bundles
Several energy suppliers have diversified their offerings by providing additional services like home broadband, mobile contracts and insurance alongside their energy contracts.
These bundles are offered by suppliers like Utility Warehouse, amongst others.
