Calculate your electricity and gas bills. Bulb customers are now served by Octopus Energy with competitive rates.
Calculate your estimated electricity and gas costs using current UK price cap rates (January - March 2026):
These are the Ofgem price cap rates that apply to all standard variable tariffs in the UK:
| Fuel Type | Unit Rate (Direct Debit) | Standing Charge (Daily) | Annual Cost (Typical Use) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 27.69p per kWh | 54.75p per day | £1,168 |
| Gas | 6.34p per kWh | 31.49p per day | £833 |
| Dual Fuel Total | - | 86.24p per day | £1,758 |
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Note: Rates vary slightly by region. These are average rates for England, Scotland, and Wales. Actual rates may be 1-3% higher or lower depending on your Distribution Network Operator (DNO) area.
Bulb Energy collapsed due to the 2021 energy crisis when wholesale gas prices surged by over 400%. The company had locked in low prices for customers but couldn't cover the much higher wholesale costs. This affected 29 UK energy suppliers, with Bulb being the largest to fail.
The government placed Bulb into special administration and spent £2.2 billion supporting the company while finding a buyer. Octopus Energy's acquisition ended up generating a £1.5 billion profit for taxpayers.
Octopus Energy has won Which? Best Energy Supplier 5 times in a row (2019-2024) for outstanding customer service.
Access to Octopus Tracker (follows wholesale prices), Agile (half-hourly rates), and Intelligent Octopus Go for EV owners.
All electricity supplied is matched with renewable sources, continuing Bulb's green energy commitment.
Industry-leading app and smart meter integration for real-time energy monitoring and control.
Switch to a fixed tariff or another supplier anytime without penalties on standard variable tariffs.
One fair price for all customers - no loyalty penalty. New and existing customers get the same rates.
Switch to a fixed tariff: If you're on a variable tariff, consider switching to a fixed rate if prices are competitive. Check comparison sites regularly.
Install a smart meter: Free smart meters help you track usage in real-time, typically saving households £30-50 per year.
Reduce heating by 1°C: Lowering your thermostat from 21°C to 20°C can save around £145 per year.
Switch to LED bulbs: LEDs use 75% less electricity than traditional bulbs and last 25 times longer, saving £35+ annually.
All Bulb Energy customers were transferred to Octopus Energy in December 2022. If you were a Bulb customer, you are now automatically an Octopus Energy customer. Your energy supply continued without interruption, and you should now receive bills and communications from Octopus Energy.
Your rates are protected by the Ofgem price cap, which applies to all standard variable tariffs in the UK. The price cap changes quarterly (January, April, July, October) based on wholesale energy costs. Former Bulb customers pay the same capped rates as all other UK households on standard tariffs.
Yes, you can switch to any energy supplier at any time. There are no exit fees on standard variable tariffs. Use a comparison website like Uswitch, MoneySuperMarket, or Confused.com to compare deals. However, Octopus Energy consistently ranks as one of the best suppliers for service and value.
Your account balance was automatically transferred to your new Octopus Energy account. If you had a credit balance with Bulb, it was carried over. If you had a debit (owed money), that also transferred. You should have received confirmation of your opening balance with Octopus Energy.
Energy rates have changed significantly since Bulb's collapse in 2021. Wholesale gas prices surged during 2021-2022, causing the price cap to increase from around £1,277 (Oct 2021) to a peak of £4,279 (Jan 2023). Current rates (Jan-Mar 2026) are £1,758 - still higher than pre-crisis levels but down significantly from the peak.
It depends on fixed tariff pricing versus the price cap. As of January 2026, some competitive fixed tariffs are available at similar or slightly lower prices than the price cap. Compare deals on comparison websites. Consider fixing if:
This calculator uses official Ofgem price cap rates for January-March 2026. Estimates are accurate for typical direct debit customers in England, Scotland, and Wales. Actual bills may vary by 1-3% depending on your region's Distribution Network Operator (DNO) charges. Prepayment meters and standard credit payment methods have slightly different rates.
Yes, Octopus Energy supplies 100% renewable electricity, matching all electricity supplied with renewable sources through Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO) certificates. Octopus is also investing heavily in renewable energy generation, including wind farms and solar projects across the UK.