Overview

Understand how UK utility services work and manage your household bills effectively. We cover electricity, gas, water, payment options and switching suppliers.

About Your Electricity Supply

How the UK electricity supply changed from a single government-run board to today's split system of generators, suppliers and networks.

About Your Gas Supply

How the UK's gas industry shifted from state control to private companies and competition in the 1980s.

Comparing and Switching

Here's how to compare utility suppliers and time your switch to get the best deal for your needs.

Different Payment Methods

You can pay your utilities five main ways: direct debit, standing order, cheques, cash or coin metres, each with different rules and costs.

Domestic Water and Sewage Services

How Britain's 1989 water and sewage privatisation sparked public concern about treating essential services as profit centres.

Ethical Utility Providers

Find ethical energy providers that match your climate values without breaking the bank on electricity and gas bills.

Questionnaire: Storage Heaters or Central Heating?

Weigh up storage heaters against central heating to find the right system for your home and budget.

What Happens if You Can't Pay Your Bill?

Your utility company won't cut you off easily, but here's what you should do if you're falling behind on payments.