British Gas had 6.9 million customers in 2020. The company is owned by Centrica plc and is the largest energy and home services supplier in the UK. Its history can be traced back to 1812 with the Gas Light and Coke Company – the world’s first public utilities company. We’ve set out below what British Gas’s fuel mix is, and whether you may want to consider it as the supplier for your household energy needs.
| Supplier name | British Gas |
|---|---|
| Green tariffs | |
| Fixed tariffs | |
| Variable tariffs | |
| Dual fuel deals | |
| Manage online | |
| Manage account via app | |
| Manage account by telephone | |
| Live chat support available | |
| Email support available | |
| Can install smart meters | |
| Can offer Warm Home Discount | |
| Percentage renewables (electricity) | 76% |
| Compare |
According to data collected from British Gas by the industry regulator Ofgem, British Gas buys its energy from the following sources:
According to data compiled by the charity Citizens Advice, in 2020 an average of 24.6 complaints per 10,000 British Gas customers was escalated to a third party, including the Energy Ombudsman, a dispute resolution organisation recognised by the energy industry. This is pretty much in the middle of the scale for last year.
Although it’s the largest UK supplier, British Gas doesn’t always have the best reputation for the quality of its customer service. Its rating on the customer review site Trustpilot gives it 3.1 stars out of 5, based on over 63,400 customer reviews. While the number of customers giving the supplier an “excellent” rating stands at 43%, a further 35% of customers have given a “poor” or “bad” review.
Some of the reviews posted on Trustpilot complain of delays in getting engineers to visit a property to fit, repair and maintain gas boilers.
British Gas has improved and widened its services in recent years, so customers who have previously had a poor experience with the utility giant may want to give it another look. One example is that among some of its tariffs, the firm offers time-of-use tariffs designed for electric vehicle owners who want to charge their cars at home at night.
But the main issue that most will continue to have with British Gas is its tariff prices. The firm is rarely, if ever, the cheapest option available, whether you’re looking for a fixed deal or a “default” variable tariff. So, if price is your main priority, British Gas may not necessarily represent best value for money.
Finder scores, in blue, are based on our expert analysis. We also show reviews from users, where we've received more than 10, with a score in yellow. We gather more reviews from customers every year in Finder's customer satisfaction survey.
With so many of us looking to cut costs this winter, here are some ways to save on gas and electricity while still staying safe and warm.
The energy experts at Finder compare suppliers and rank them on several areas of customer service performance to give you an informed view.
Choosing between E.ON Next and EDF Energy? Compare these 2 major energy suppliers on factors like available tariffs, Finder score, price and service.
Read our full comparison of two of the UK’s biggest energy providers, including prices, tariffs, exit fees, green credentials and customer satisfaction information.
The top 10 countries proving that solar power is the way forward.