Your energy bill isn’t a mystery novel. It’s three numbers and a few rules. If those numbers are wrong for your home, you’re quietly overpaying every single day — and yes, you can change it in the time it takes the kettle to boil.
The total looked familiar, almost boring. The small print didn’t. 29.1p per kWh for electricity. 61p a day standing charge. A fixed deal I never chose had ended, and I’d been nudged onto something “standard”.
Outside, a neighbour was chatting about winter stretching the budget. I scrolled back through emails, then the meter snapshots on my camera roll. The pattern was obvious when I finally looked at the right numbers, not the headline. The trap was hiding in plain sight.
I tapped “Switch supplier”. The form said five minutes. That’s when the nerves kicked in. What if I mess this up? A tiny voice cut through the fuss: what if you don’t.
How to spot the signs your tariff is quietly draining your wallet
We’ve all had that moment when a bill lands and you shrug because “that’s just what it costs now”. Start with three simple checks. Your electricity unit rate (p/kWh). Your gas unit rate (p/kWh). Your daily standing charge for each fuel.
Those are the levers that move money out of your account. If your unit rate sits above the level most people in your region pay under the price cap, or your standing charge is chunky while your usage is light, that’s a red flag. One more: scan for exit fees. If they’re steep, you’re incentivised to stay put. That’s not always in your interest.
Here’s a human-sized example. Sam in Bristol let a one‑year fix end last spring and rolled onto the standard variable tariff. Nothing dramatic changed. Then they compared the unit rate to a fresh fix on offer that week — 2p lower per kWh and no exit fee. Same kettle, same showers, different maths. The monthly debit dropped without cutting usage, just by matching the tariff to reality.
Tariffs are sold like gym memberships. Easy to join, lots of “typical” numbers, and a haze of options. The Ofgem price cap sets a maximum unit rate and standing charge for a “typical” home, but it doesn’t cap your total bill. Your region, payment method, and meter type all nudge the price. Pay by direct debit and it’s usually cheaper than cash or cheque. On Economy 7 or time‑of‑use? Night rates can be lower, day rates higher, and it only helps if you shift real usage into off‑peak.
Look past the marketing labels to the raw figures. If you rarely use gas in summer, a high standing charge punishes you for simply being connected. If you’re home all day with a heat pump or you run electric heating, it’s the unit rate that bites. And if you’ve got a smart meter, you may be eligible for time‑based deals that only work if your routine plays along. Soyons honnêtes : personne ne fait vraiment ça tous les jours.
Do the five‑minute switch that pays you back all year
Grab your latest bill and scribble down two things: annual usage in kWh for electricity and gas, and your postcode. That’s it. Ignore the monthly spend for comparison purposes — it’s a moving target. Head to a reputable comparison tool or the Citizens Advice energy price finder, punch in the kWh, select your current supplier and tariff, and sort results by estimated annual cost.
Skim the top few. Check unit rates and standing charges against your current deal. If a new fix beats your variable tariff today and has modest or no exit fees, it’s a practical hedge. If a variable from another supplier is cheaper now and gives flexibility, that can be smarter in a falling market. Make the call that fits your risk tolerance, not your neighbour’s. The sign‑up screens will ask how you pay now, your meter type, and your address. No engineer visits. No downtime. You’re switching who bills you, not the pipes and wires.
Common snags are easy to dodge. Don’t estimate usage from memory — use the kWh on your bill. Don’t chase a headline that only works with direct debit if you pay on receipt of bill. Look out for teaser credits that vanish after month one. If you’re on Economy 7 with barely any night use, a single‑rate tariff can win. If you’re a low user, a lower standing charge matters more than a tiny unit rate drop. Strapped this month? Ask your current supplier about support schemes before you jump. Exit fees on fixes aren’t evil, just a cost to weigh. Let’s be honest: nobody really does that every day.
“Switching doesn’t touch your meter, your safety, or your supply. It’s administrative. The real work is choosing based on your kWh, not your fear,” an energy adviser told me. “If you can buy a train ticket online, you can do this.”
- Find your annual kWh for each fuel on the bill’s “About your tariff” or “Your usage” section.
- Compare by kWh, not pounds per month. Pound figures hide assumptions.
- Favour deals with fair standing charges if you’re a light user.
- Check exit fees and tariff length before you click “confirm”.
- Take a screenshot of the offer page so you know what you signed up for.
What happens next — and why this tiny habit changes everything
After you press “switch”, you’ll get a welcome email, a cool‑off window, and a date. Most moves complete within around five working days. You send opening meter readings if asked, your old supplier closes the account, and any credit is refunded. There’s no interruption. If you change your mind in the cooling‑off period, you can cancel without drama.
Build one small ritual from here. Put a calendar reminder every quarter to note your unit rates and standing charges, plus your true usage. That’s a 90‑second job and it keeps you from drifting onto a poor fit. As markets shift, the best choice shifts too. A cheap fix this month could lag in a dip; a flexible tariff gives agility when prices wobble. Your aim isn’t to outguess the wholesale market. It’s to not leave free money on the table.
The best part isn’t the saving on day one. It’s the feeling that you’re steering again. You cut the noise to three numbers, you make a move, and you get back to your evening. No long lecture, no doom scroll. Just a clear, human decision that compounds, bill after bill.
Keep the conversation going
Energy doesn’t need to be mysterious or moralistic. It’s practical. It’s you, your home, and a few digits that either work for you or against you. The more we talk about the actual numbers, the easier it gets to see the trick and step around it.
Tell a friend what your unit rate is right now. Ask them theirs. Share the kWh method in your WhatsApp group. It’s oddly contagious, because it gives people back a sense of control. Prices may swing, but agency is steady if we keep this simple.
And if you’ve switched before, say what surprised you. Was it quicker than you thought? Did your supplier treat you better when you said you were leaving? Stories beat slogans. The quiet win is knowing that next time a bill lands, you’ll read the lines that matter — and skip the panic.
| Point clé | Détail | Intérêt pour le lecteur |
|---|---|---|
| Comparer par kWh | Base your choice on annual electricity and gas usage, not monthly spend | Reveals the real cheapest tariff for your home, not a marketing estimate |
| Regarder les trois chiffres | Unit rate, standing charge, and any exit fee | Fast test for rip‑offs and easy wins for low or high users |
| Passer à l’action en 5 minutes | Use a trusted tool, enter kWh and postcode, choose, click | Immediate control, with switches completing in around five working days |
FAQ :
- Will my power or gas be cut off during a switch?No. The pipes and wires stay the same. You’re changing who bills you, not the physical supply.
- Is a fixed tariff worth it right now?If a fix beats your current variable rates and exit fees are low, it can buy certainty. If prices look likely to fall, a flexible deal might be better. Choose based on your usage and risk appetite.
- Do I need a smart meter to switch?No. You can switch with traditional meters. Some time‑of‑use or tracker deals do require smart meters, but standard fixes and variables don’t.
- What about exit fees if I’m mid‑fix?Weigh the fee against the saving. If the new tariff saves more than the fee over the remaining term, the maths can still favour moving.
- How do I find my annual kWh?Look on your bill under “Your usage” or “About your tariff”. If it’s missing, estimate from the last 12 months of readings or ask your current supplier for your annual consumption.
