British Gas Out of Contract Rates (Effective October 2025)

Check your latest bill for the tariff name. If it says "Variable Price Plan" (VPP) or doesn't mention a fixed contract end date, you're out of contract. You can also log into your British Gas account online or call them directly. If your contract ended and you didn't actively choose a new one, you're automatically on their VPP.

If you have a half-hourly (HH) meter, you're likely a larger energy user, and British Gas's out-of-contract rates are even more expensive for you. HH meters record your usage every 30 minutes, and British Gas charges premium rates of 25.14-25.51p/kWh for electricity, plus high standing charges (312-531p/day) and capacity charges. The savings potential for HH meter customers switching away from British Gas VPP is often greater - typically £10,000-£50,000+ annually depending on consumption. We specialise in securing competitive rates for HH customers.

Absolutely! Being out of contract means you're free to switch at any time with no exit fees or penalties. In fact, this is the perfect time to switch because you're not locked in. The switching process typically takes 2-5 days, and your energy supply won't be interrupted.

Most businesses save between 35-45% when switching from British Gas's out-of-contract rates to a competitive fixed contract. For a typical SME, this translates to £3,000-£5,000 per year. Larger businesses with higher consumption can save significantly more. The exact savings depend on your usage, location, and the contract terms available when you switch.

No, your energy supply is never interrupted when switching suppliers. The switch happens behind the scenes through the National Grid system. You'll continue receiving electricity and gas without any disruption. The only changes you'll notice are lower bills and correspondence from your new supplier instead of British Gas.

No! When you switch through us, we handle all communication with British Gas on your behalf. We notify them of your switch, arrange the final meter readings, and ensure your account is closed properly. You don't need to contact British Gas at all. We make the entire process completely hassle-free.

British Gas must refund any credit balance on your account within 14 days of your switch completing. This is a regulatory requirement. Make sure to provide them with your bank details for a direct refund. If you paid by Direct Debit, they'll typically refund to the same account automatically.

The standard switching period is 2-5 days from when you sign your new contract. During this time, all the administrative work happens in the background. Once complete, you'll receive a final bill from British Gas and your first bill from your new supplier.

You never receive an invoice from us - our service is entirely free for you to use. We're paid a commission by energy suppliers, which is included in your contract rates and fully declared in your paperwork. Here's why using us makes sense: we have access to wholesale base rates that suppliers don't offer when you contact them directly. This means we can often secure better deals than you'd get going to suppliers yourself, even with our commission included. Plus, we save you the time and hassle of contacting dozens of suppliers individually.