A Comprehensive Guide to UK Energy Suppliers: Compare Tariffs and Prices

Last updated: 31/01/2023

Choosing the right energy supplier can have a significant impact on your monthly energy bill. With so many options available in the UK, it can be difficult to know where to start. This guide provides a complete list of all the energy suppliers in the UK, along with a comparison of their tariffs, prices, and services. Whether you're looking to switch suppliers or just want to get a better understanding of the energy market, this guide will help you find the best option for your needs.

At The Energy Shop, we compare deals from all energy suppliers including the 'Big Six' suppliers such as EDF Energy and Scottish Power, as well as the smaller energy suppliers such as Shell Energy and Octopus Energy.

We check the tariffs of all suppliers every day and are constantly adding new ones as energy suppliers compete against each others pricing.

With so much going on, and with so many suppliers to choose from, this guide will help you learn about the different energy companies on offer when it comes to comparing energy prices.

As an energy comparison service helping consumers switch energy suppliers, we feel it is our duty to not only make energy savings but also to help consumers learn more about their energy supplier.

The full list of all energy suppliers, past and present within the UK is below. Where an energy supplier has gone bust, we have detailed which supplier they have been transferred to.

We go in to more detail on each energy providers review page, but let's take a quick look at some of the key gas and electricity suppliers currently operating in the energy market:

British Gas

Owned by Centrica, British Gas remains the largest of all the energy suppliers holding around 5.1m customer accounts. However, that is significantly lower than a few years ago when they held 25% of the market. British Gas is also the incumbent gas supplier for the UK making it the only supplier to have a larger holding of gas customers than electricity.

EDF Energy

French owned EDF Energy is the incumbent energy supplier to London and holds around 3 million energy accounts within the UK. Self-promoted as "generation electric" they source more than 70% of their energy from nuclear power.

E.ON Next

German owned energy giant E.ON (previously Powergen) is the incumbent electricity supplier to the midlands and holds around 4m energy accounts.

SSE

Scottish & Southern was the 2nd largest energy supplier in the UK until recent years where, as with other "big six" suppliers, they have seen their pot of customers swallowed up by new more agile companies. In September 2019, they agreed to sell their retail business consisting of 3.5m customers to the rising star of the energy market - Ovo Energy in a deal worth £500m. SSE operates under a number of different brands including, Southern Electric, Scottish Hydro, SWALEC and Atlantic.

Scottish Power

Owned by Spanish energy giants Iberdrola, Scottish Power supplies energy to around 5 million households and businesses. They are also one of the first energy companies to fast-track their transition to renewable energy with claims to be 100% renewable "soon".

Ovo Energy

Launched in 2009, Ovo Energy has moved at lightning pace to disrupt the market and has grown to now hold 5% of the market. However, after news they will acquire SSE's retail arm, this will essentially see them become the UK's second largest energy company behind British Gas...and I doubt it will stop there.

Shell Energy

Yes Shell where you fill up your tank joined the UK energy market back in 2018 after acquiring First Utility. They claim to offer 100% renewable electricity as well as Shell reward points and broadband to their customers.

It is worth noting that energy companies only handle your energy bill and charge you for the gas and electricity you use at home on either a variable or fixed price tariff. The supply itself is actually handled by a different company known as the Distribution Network Operator (DNO). It is these companies who are responsible for ensuring your home is supplied with gas and/or electricity depending on where you live.

Details of which DNO covers each areas are below:

So there you have it. Our summary of all the energy suppliers currently operating in the UK domestic market. This is a market that keeps changing so we will be sure to keep updating our content to ensure it presents you with the most accurate overview of all the energy companies you can choose from when looking to save money on your home energy bills whether that be comparing electricity prices, gas only, or dual fuel.