British Gas energy review

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.

British Gas’s tariffs and service

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%
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Is British Gas green?

According to data collected from British Gas by the industry regulator Ofgem, British Gas buys its energy from the following sources:

British Gas customer reviews

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.

Pros and cons for British Gas energy

Our verdict: Is British Gas any good?

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.

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Frequently asked questions

• How easy is it to switch to British Gas?

  British Gas is signed up to the Energy Switching Guarantee, which means that if you switch to British Gas, it will handle the whole switching process. As part of the guarantee, the firm also promises to get you switched over in 21 days or less.

• Can I stay with my existing energy supplier if I move to British Gas but then change my mind?

  Yes, as a member of the Energy Switch Guarantee scheme, British Gas must allow you to remain with your existing provider up to 14 days after you initially apply to switch.