The UK's biggest energy suppliers have been put under the microscope, with a new ranking revealing which companies are leaving their customers in the dark. The consumer champion Which? has published its annual league table, drawing on the experiences of nearly 12,000 households to determine the best and worst performers in the sector.
The Worst Performers: A Trio of Industry Giants
At the bottom of the table, three major household names received damning verdicts. Scottish Power achieved the lowest overall score of just 56%, with particular criticism levelled at its poor handling of customer complaints. Close behind were EDF and British Gas, rounding out the list of the worst-rated suppliers.
EDF was marked down for its customer service accessibility, specifically for not monitoring its phone lines and email accounts as consistently as its rivals. British Gas, meanwhile, struggled significantly with two key areas: resolving complaints and managing customer switches efficiently.
Top of the Class: The Recommended Providers
In stark contrast, E (Gas and Electricity) topped the rankings, earning praise for outstanding customer service, ease of contact, and billing clarity. It was joined in the 'recommended' category by only three other providers: Octopus Energy, Sainsbury's Energy, and 100Green.
Emily Seymour, Energy Editor at Which?, issued a stark warning to underperforming firms. "Some big firms - including Scottish Power, EDF and British Gas - are letting their customers down," she stated. She emphasised that with fixed tariffs now reliably cheaper than the energy price cap, consumers should not feel compelled to tolerate poor value or substandard service.
Supplier Responses and Industry Context
In response to the findings, the companies criticised have defended their records. Centrica, the parent company of British Gas, told Which? that customer complaints have fallen by more than 20% annually for the past two years and highlighted its dedicated support line for vulnerable customers.
An EDF spokeswoman pointed to its high Trustpilot rating of 4.8, stating the firm was "committed to continuing to improve." Scottish Power, however, questioned the methodology, arguing that the Citizens Advice scorecard is the "customer service gold standard" and that its own investments have led to "sustained, high-quality delivery" for customers.
The ranking serves as a crucial guide for consumers at a time when switching deals is becoming financially advantageous again, empowering households to seek out better service and value from their energy provider.
