Compare energy prices
Energy Guides
First Utility
Article updated: Wednesday 26 January, 2011Independent supplier First Utility challenged the “big six” energy giants in September 2009 and launched the cheapest dual fuel deal in the UK. But is First:utility the right deal for you...
Previously trading under the brand First:telecom, the independent energy supplier has been offering households and businesses gas, electricity, phone and broadband since 1994.
As a pioneer of smart meter technology, it is the only energy supplier in the UK that offers smart meters as standard, and therefore promises 100% accurate billing across all its services, as well as encouraging consumers to manage their energy consumption and bills, and cut their carbon footprint.
First:utility’s services
First:utility offers two tariffs:
- iSave tariff
- Smart as Standard tariff
Both tariffs are dual fuel only and offer competitive rates for gas and electricity. The iSave tariff offers an 11% discount for taking both fuels and has online account management as standard. The Smart as Standard tariff gives a 15% discount for taking both fuels and comes with a free smart meter. This allows you to monitor your energy use and eliminates inaccurate billing by giving actual meter readings.
Billing is online and paperless, and payments are made by monthly direct debit.
Switching to First:utility
- When you first sign-up to a First:utility energy tariff, a smart meter will be installed to calculate accurate readings of your electricity and gas usage throughout the day.
- Your electricity usage will be recorded every half an hour, and gas usage is recorded on a daily basis.
- At the end of each month an accurate bill based on your actual will be sent to you online for you to pay.
Fuel mix
This table shows First:utility’s fuel mix:| Fuel source | First:utility’s fuel mix | Average UK fuel mix |
| Coal | 33.7% | 25.8% |
| Gas | 54.1% | 47.7% |
| Nuclear | 7.2% | 18% |
| Renewables | 1.3% | 6.6% |
| Other | 3.7% | 1.9% |
|
|