Best final minute mounted power offers to beat the looming worth cap rise
Households have less than a week to switch their energy deal or risk paying more as the April price cap kicks in.
Ofgem announced the energy price cap will increase 6.4 per cent from £1,738 to £1,849 for an average dual-fuel household on 1 April.
Unit rates will now be 27.03p/kWh for electricity and 6.99p/kWh for gas, and standing charges will come in at 53.8p and 32.67p per day, respectively.
Geopolitical tensions have driven the spike in prices, which are expected to dip in July before rising again by the end of the year.
It means that if you are on a standard variable tariff, you will be at the whim of an increasingly volatile energy market, so households need to weigh up whether it is worth riding the wave or fixing.
Price cap rise: Volatile prices mean households should consider opting for a fixed tariff
Fixed tariffs undercut price cap
If you want some stability in how much you’ll pay for the next year or so, then consider a fixed tariff.
Even the regulator Ofgem has urged households to fix their bill before April’s price rise.
During the energy crisis, suppliers pulled these deals from the market but now, almost all suppliers offer them at a discount to the price cap.
Outfox the Market’s 12-month deal offers a £252 saving on the Aprice price cap at £1,597, while those who fix for 24 months can save £239 at £1,610.
Even if the price cap falls to £1,756 in July as predicted by experts, you’ll still be saving over £100 with these deals.
If you want stability for longer than a year but don’t want to lock in for two years, Outfox the Market’s 18-month deal offers savings of £232.
So Energy is also offering some hefty discounts on its fixed tariffs. Its 24-month deal will give households a saving of £239, while its 12-month contract will save you £209.
If you’re considering switching suppliers, you should be aware that some suppliers charge you to leave your deal, and this tends to rise the longer the duration of the deal.
For example, Outfox the Market charges £25 per fuel if you leave its 12-month deal early, which rises to £75 per fuel if you’ve signed up for 24 months.
| Supplier | Tariff | Fix duration | Average annual bill | Saving vs the April price cap (£1,849) | Exit fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outfox the Market | Outfox the Price Cap (Apr 25) 12M Fix’d Dual v1.0 | 12 month | £1,597 | £252 | £25 per fuel |
| Outfox the Market | 2-year Fix’d Dual Mar25 v3.0 | 24 months | £1,610 | £239 | £75 per fuel |
| So Energy | So Beech Two Year – Green | 24 months | £1,610 | £239 | £75 per fuel |
| Outfox the Market | 18-Month Fix’d Dual Mar25 v2.0 | 18 months | £1,617 | £232 | £50 per fuel |
| So Energy | So Beech One Year – Green | 12 months | £1,640 | £209 | £50 per fuel |
| British Gas | Fixed tariff v48 | 16 months | £1,688 | £161 | £50 per fuel |
| Co-op Energy | Co-op 14M Fixed March 2025 v2 | 14 months | £1,688 | £161 | None |
| Octopus Energy | Octopus 14M Fixed March 2025 v2 | 14 months | £1,688 | £161 | None |
| E.ON Next | Next Fixed 14m v1 | 14 months | £1,692 | £157 | £50 per fuel |
| OVO Energy | Extended Fixed 20 March 2025 | 15 months | £1,693 | £156 | £75 per fuel |
| Source: Uswitch.com. Prices correct as of 2:15pm on 25 March 2025. Tariffs included within the table are the cheapest non-bundle fixed tariffs, not variable or tracker. All energy tariffs and prices mentioned are subject to change without notice, and rates vary upon region. These are the cheapest tariffs available based on suppliers who have updated Uswitch with their rates. |
Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch, says: ‘Anyone who hasn’t switched in a year or more will probably be impacted by this price rise.
‘We’re seeing some great fixed deals being offered ahead of 1 April, and the potential savings for an average household still sitting on a standard tariff are significant.
The average household on a standard tariff could currently save around £252 by switching to a fixed deal.
He adds: ‘Energy prices continue to be volatile, but a fixed deal means you can lock in lower rates for a whole year or longer.
‘It only takes a few minutes to run a comparison, so it’s worth seeing if you can beat the price rise.’
