The UK Energy Fixed Tariff Ending Report 2026
How fixed energy tariff endings, default tariff pricing and review timing affect what households pay when a deal changes.
What the data shows
Default tariff cap
Price cap level
£1,641
Ofgem says the default tariff price cap for a typical dual-fuel household paying by Direct Debit is £1,641 from 1 April to 30 June 2026.
Quarterly change
Quarter-on-quarter
£117 lower
Ofgem says the price cap fell by £117, or 7%, for April to June 2026 compared with the previous quarter.
Year-on-year change
Year-on-year
£208 lower
Ofgem says the April to June 2026 cap is 11% or £208 lower than the same period in 2025.
What the cap covers
Default tariffs only
Default tariffs
Ofgem says the price cap applies to standard variable or default tariffs, not to every fixed deal.
Penalty-free switching window
Switching window
49 days
MoneySavingExpert says if you have 49 days or less left on a fixed energy tariff, you can switch penalty-free.
What is happening when fixed energy tariffs end
Energy is a slightly different Household Bills category because the next tariff is not always automatically worse in a simple way.
When a fixed tariff ends, households often move onto a supplier's default tariff unless they choose a new deal. Ofgem's price cap helps define that default pricing, but it can still change every quarter. The important point is that the tariff changes on a known date, whether or not the household is ready.
That makes fixed energy tariff endings a clear review point. The deal ends. The pricing basis changes. The decision needs to happen before that date.
Why fixed energy tariff endings still need reviewing
The danger with energy is false certainty.
A household may assume the current fix is still fine, or may assume that moving onto the default tariff is obviously bad. Neither is always true. The right answer depends on what the new default price looks like, what fixed tariffs are available, whether exit fees still apply, and what the household values more: price certainty or flexibility.
That is why the tariff-end date matters. It is the point where the pricing basis can change, even if the household has not looked yet.
What households should check before the tariff ends
Check the exact tariff end date
Know when the fixed rates stop and what tariff follows next.
Check the fallback tariff
Understand what happens if you do nothing and the account moves onto the supplier's default pricing.
Check the switching window
MoneySavingExpert says the last 49 days of a fix are generally the penalty-free window for switching.
Check unit rates and standing charges
Do not compare energy deals on headlines alone.
Review before the tariff changes
The point is to make the decision while the current deal is still in force.
Related pages
Energy tariff reminders
How Onremind protects you before your fixed energy tariff ends.
What to check before a fixed energy tariff ends
Practical guidance on reviewing your energy options before the date.
Ofgem price cap update: what it means when your fixed deal ends
Latest developments relevant to energy tariff endings.
All household bill reminders
See all household bill categories protected by Onremind.
Sources
- Ofgem, April to June 2026 energy price cap announcement
- Ofgem, energy price cap explained
- MoneySavingExpert, energy tariff switching and penalty-free window guidance
- Which?, energy tariffs explained