Energy & utilities: questions and answers

United Kingdom 16

1. Which Octopus Energy tariff should I choose: Flexible, Fixed, Tracker or Agile?

   Flexible Octopus is price capped with no exit fees, a Fixed tariff locks prices for 12 or 18 months but may charge exit fees, and Tracker or Agile follow wholesale…

2. How can I get the most from solar panels and a home battery?

   Use as much solar electricity as practical when the panels are generating, then compare battery storage with the income available from exporting surplus power. Ofgem’s…

3. Should you fix your energy tariff or stay variable?

   There is no universal winner between fixed and standard variable tariffs. Compare unit rates and standing charges with the price cap, check any exit fee and fix length…

4. What happens when your energy supplier is taken over or fails?

   A supplier takeover and a supplier failure are different events. In a takeover, the acquiring business usually handles the customer migration; in a failure, Ofgem…

5. What happens when an old or replacement smart meter is due?

   If an old meter needs replacing or an RTS service is being retired, your supplier may need to change the meter so it can keep operating and support your tariff.

6. Can an EV power your home and export electricity to the grid?

   Yes, potentially. Vehicle-to-everything systems can move electricity from an EV battery back to a home, building or the grid, but the car, bidirectional charger…

7. Do I have to accept a replacement cooker?

   You do not normally have to accept a particular replacement cooker just because an insurer, retailer or service-plan provider has offered it. Check whether the offer…

8. How to replace a Danfoss FP715Si with smart heating controls

   A smart replacement should be chosen by the heating system and wiring, not simply by the old controller's brand. Before buying, confirm the heat source, switching…

9. Are water meters cheaper, and how are they read?

   A water meter can reduce a household bill, but it depends on your current charge, household size and water use. In England, metered customers are billed using recorded…

10. Is it cheaper to leave central heating on all day?

    For a gas boiler, usually no: keeping central heating on all day generally uses more energy and costs more than heating the home when you need it. Heat pumps are…

11. Can I cancel a new energy tariff during the cooling-off period?

    For a UK household energy switch, you can generally cancel within the 14-day cooling-off period. After that, a fixed tariff may have exit fees or other cancellation…

12. When should an energy tariff reward credit appear?

    Timing depends on the tariff terms. For EDF Power Perks, EDF currently says eligible event credits are usually added during the first week of the month after the event…

13. What is the average water bill in the UK in 2026/27?

    For 2026/27, the national average household water and wastewater bill in England and Wales is forecast at £639 a year, about £53.25 a month. Actual bills vary by…

14. Is Economy 7 still worth it with a smart meter?

    Economy 7 can still be worthwhile if a large share of your electricity use happens during the off-peak period, especially with storage heating or overnight EV charging…

15. Can the Warm Homes: Local Grant help with solar panels?

    It may help an eligible household with home-energy improvements, but you should not assume that a solar installation is automatically funded. The Warm Homes: Local…

16. Is my household water and energy use normal?

    There is no single normal household usage level. Water and energy use depends on occupants, property size, weather, heating system, insulation and habits. Compare your…

Worldwide 1

1. How do you convert a gas meter reading to kWh?

   For a UK gas bill, subtract the old meter reading from the new one, convert imperial units to cubic metres when needed, apply the bill’s calorific value and correction…