Are you satisfied with your current energy supplier in 2023? Are they exceeding your expectations, or are you still spending 40 minutes on hold just to reach them?
If you’re looking to save hundreds of pounds, it’s worth considering a switch to a new provider. So, who were the standout performers and underachievers of 2023 in the energy industry?
Once you’ve made up your mind about the right supplier for your needs, it’s wise to carry out an energy price comparison. This will help you identify the most competitive energy deals available in your local area. With the anticipation of rising energy prices in the year ahead, ensuring you’re getting the best value for your money is crucial.
To gauge the ranking of energy suppliers, we consider the following parameters:
- Value for Money
- Customer Service
- Green Energy Usage
Here’s an overview of the energy industry in 2023, as well as comparisons to our 2021 energy suppliers piece.
Value For Money
To start, lets go back in time and look at the suppliers that made the top of our list the last time we ranked them, which was 2 years ago now!
So, in 2021, we first published our list of best rated suppliers:
The suppliers who perform the best for value for money are as follows:
Outfox The Market
SPECIFICATIONS
- They have multiple tariffs,
- Cheapest tariff is the One Variable Tariff 6.0
- £30 exit fee,
- Rated 5 stars for Value for Money by its own customers.
Octopus Energy
SPECIFICATIONS
- They have multiple tariffs,
- The Flexible Octopus Tariff means the amount you can rise or fall depending on wholesale energy prices. This allows you to take advantage of any drops in energy prices.
- No exit fee,
- Rated 4 stars for Value for Money by its own customers.
The suppliers who DO NOT perform well for value for money are as follows:
Npower
SPECIFICATIONS
- It has been increasing prices over the last 2 years,
- in 2019 £117 was added to the bills of average energy consumers, and in 2020 some customers’ bills increased by hundreds of pounds a year as result of a change in off-peak night-time tariffs.
- You may be charged an early exit fee if you’re on a fixed term contract,
- Rated 1 star for Value for Money by its own customers.
Scottish Power
SPECIFICATIONS
- Their tariffs are priced very close to the maximum price cap rate so customers are likely to increase with the next price cap review in February 2021
- in 2019 they increased prices by around £117
- All fixed-term tariffs have exit fees,
- Rated 1 star for Value for Money by its own customers.
SSE
SPECIFICATIONS
- More than 90% of household had and electricity customers are paying the most expensive rates for their energy,
- They don’t charge an exit fee on their fixed-term tariffs,
- Rated 2 stars for Value for Money by its own customers.
Now in 2023, combining our own knowledge and opinions of customers on review sites like Trustpilot, here is our list:
Octopus Energy
With 195,000 reviews and a score of 4.8 on Trustpilot, Octopus Energy comes number one on our list.
Not only is it’s phone wait time in the top 10 of all suppliers, it has a very good customer review score of 78% in a survey taken by Which.
Offering renewable energy, their rates are not only affordable but also among the most competitive available. Plus, with their commitment to 100% green energy, you’re not just saving money; you’re also contributing to a greener planet—an invaluable choice.
Switching to Octopus Energy is made hassle-free with the Energy Switch Guarantee, sparing you from those awkward conversations with your current supplier. What’s more, there are no switching fees should you decide to switch to another provider down the line.
Customers can also enjoy a fantastic rewards program that helps you save money on your bills. And when it comes to customer service, this energy company stands out as a leader in the industry.
They are also currently running a promotion where you get £50 for signing up… not bad right?
Outfox The Market
Coming second on our list is Outfox the Market. With a stellar 4.5 review on trustpilot, and a variety of
At present, Outfox The Market offers a sole dual fuel tariff (covering both gas and electricity) and a single electricity-only tariff.
It’s worth noting that both tariff options are of the variable type, meaning they don’t come with fixed rates. Furthermore, these tariffs are flexible in that they don’t require a specific contract duration, and there are no associated exit fees.
Another notable benefit with Outfox is that both tariff options include 100% renewable electricity, and right now
EDF
Third up is EDF. Customers noted their standout points are their ability to support vunerable customers, as well as their low carbon power.
Customer Service Wait Times for Energy Suppliers
How do you contact your energy supplier? Below is a table of the most popular ways:
| Method of Communication | Percentage Share (%) |
| Phone | 26 |
| 20 | |
| Live Chat | 12 |
| Enquiry form Online | 9 |
| App | 8 |
| In-person | 5 |
| Text Message | 4 |
| Letter | 3 |
| Social Media | 3 |
Contacting your supplier by phone was the most popular way to interact. So, if most customers are using telephone services, what do to waiting times look like for all energy suppliers?
In our 2021 list these were the results:
| Energy Company | Customer Service Waiting Time (m:s) |
| Together Energy | 00:51 |
| Ampower | 01:04 |
| Green | 01:29 |
| Igloo Energy | 01:33 |
| Sainsbury’s Energy | 01:52 |
| Octopus Energy (and M&S and Coop) | 02:04 |
| Utility Warehouse | 02:16 |
| Scottish Power | 02:28 |
| Outfox the Market | 03:13 |
| E | 03:42 |
| Bristol Energy | 03:45 |
| Shell Energy | 04:07 |
| Good Energy | 04:28 |
| Utilita | 04:31 |
| People’s energy | 05:59 |
| OVO Energy | 06:55 |
| Green Network Energy | 07:49 |
| Spark Energy | 08:38 |
| SSE | 09:55 |
| Bulb | 09:56 |
| EDF Energy | 13:26 |
| Ecotricity | 14:06 |
| Utility Point | 15:55 |
| So Energy | 16:52 |
| Avro Energy | 18:46 |
| E.On | 19:40 |
| Powershop | 19:47 |
| Npower | 21:41 |
| Orbit Energy | 23:16 |
| British Gas | 23:32 |
| Boost | 40:58 |
But how do the same energy suppliers fare in 2023?
So, according to energy help service Citizens Advice, the results changed drastically with:
Suppliers at the top of the table include:
- M&S Energy
- EDF Energy
- Octopus Energy
- Affect Energy
- So Energy
The worst-performing suppliers are:
- Utilita
- Boost Power
- Ecotricity
- Good Energy
- Ovo
Green Energy
What is a Green Energy Supplier?
A green energy supplier in the UK, also known as a renewable energy supplier or green electricity provider, is an energy company that specializes in supplying electricity generated from renewable and environmentally friendly sources. These sources typically include solar, wind, hydroelectric, and biomass power, which have a significantly lower environmental impact compared to fossil fuels like coal or natural gas.
Green energy suppliers in the UK focus on reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainability. They may offer electricity tariffs that are either 100% or partially sourced from renewable energy, and some of them may also invest in renewable energy infrastructure or carbon offsetting projects to further support their green initiatives.
Which company is the leading green energy supplier?
Ecotricity stands as the United Kingdom’s leading green energy provider, proudly offering electricity that is entirely sourced from renewable sources such as solar and wind power. They produce approximately 20% of this electricity themselves, while the remaining portion is procured from certified green energy sources through purchases from other environmentally friendly generators or the wholesale market.
On the other hand, Octopus Energy takes pride in providing 100% renewable electricity across all their smart tariffs, with the added bonus of no exit fees. They are taking the lead in the transition towards renewable energy sources and are the exclusive electricity supplier endorsed by the consumer advocacy group Which?.
Green Energy UK is another supplier that offers exclusively green energy, ensuring that both their electricity and gas are sourced from 100% renewable and sustainable sources. Their gas supply is derived from 100% biogas, produced through the anaerobic digestion of animal waste. It’s important to note that their biogas, while environmentally friendly, isn’t vegan-friendly, unlike Ecotricity’s biogas. However, the benefit of choosing Green Energy UK is that you receive 100% biogas, a valuable offering considering the relative scarcity of biogas options in the UK.
Can you get Green Energy from other suppliers too?
Many large energy suppliers now offer Green Tariffs. You can get one from providers like: British Gas, EDF, eON, Npower etc.