E.ON Next Utilita Energy (August 2026)
Overview
E.ON Next wins this comparison by offering cheaper prices, higher app ratings, and a much better Citizens Advice score.
E.ON Next leads this comparison, scoring higher on price, app ratings, and overall service metrics. Utilita Energy performs well on call wait times and email response speeds, but its lack of a fixed tariff in our current data and lower Citizens Advice score mean it places second overall.
About E.ON Next and Utilita Energy
Who are E.ON Next?
E.ON Next is the retail brand of E.ON UK, set up to replace the older E.ON brand and npower. Today, it is one of the UK's largest domestic energy suppliers. The company focuses on customer service by giving households a dedicated team of Energy Specialists to speak to when they call. It also helps customers upgrade their homes by offering discounts on heat pumps, electric vehicle chargers, solar panels, and home batteries.
Who are Utilita Energy?
Founded in 2003, Utilita Energy is one of the UK's largest independent energy suppliers. It focuses on the smart pay-as-you-go market and runs its own high street branches to give face-to-face support. A key feature of its service is that it does not charge a daily standing charge. Customers can manage their energy through the My Utilita app, use a £15 emergency credit facility, and get rewards like shopping vouchers through the Utilita Extra scheme.
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Tariffs and pricing
E.ON Next proves to be the cheaper supplier in this comparison. Its lowest-priced overall tariff is the Next Fixed 24m v57, a fixed deal costing £1,746 a year with a 24-month term and a £200 total exit fee. In contrast, Utilita Energy's cheapest option is its Smart Energy standard variable tariff at £1,805 a year, which carries no fixed term and zero exit fees. Consequently, E.ON Next works out £59 a year cheaper overall.
When comparing standard variable options, E.ON Next again costs less. Its Next Pledge Tracker 12m v12 is priced at £1,747 a year. Furthermore, Utilita Energy does not currently feature a fixed tariff in the pricing data we reviewed. This means households who prefer to lock in their rates for a year or more may find E.ON Next to be the more suitable choice.
E.ON Next and Utilita Energy: Tariff Options
E.ON Next tariffs
E.ON Next offers tariffs for households. This includes a standard variable tariff, fixed deals that lock in prices for up to two years, and a tracker option. It also has several specialist tariffs designed for homes with electric vehicles, heat pumps, or solar panels.
Utilita Energy tariffs
Utilita Energy’s current published domestic range centres on its Smart Energy tariff for smart pay-as-you-go customers. We did not identify equivalent fixed, tracker, or specialist electric-vehicle tariffs when checked.
Customer reviews
Both suppliers maintain very high review volumes on Trustpilot. E.ON Next holds a slight edge, scoring 4.5 out of 5 from 219,212 reviews, compared to Utilita Energy's 4.3 out of 5 from 112,253 reviews. Additionally, E.ON Next records a lower proportion of one-star ratings at 9%, against 16% for Utilita Energy. However, both companies achieve similar five-star shares, with 74% for E.ON Next and 72% for Utilita Energy.
Reviewers frequently highlight E.ON Next's polite staff and efficient problem resolution. Conversely, some users report concerns regarding pricing, incorrect advice, or unexpected direct debit increases. For Utilita Energy, feedback consistently points to helpful and patient staff, with customers noting that agents often resolve complex issues using clear communication.
Looking at the latest Which? survey, Utilita Energy scores 68 out of 100, narrowly beating E.ON Next's 66. Utilita Energy achieves a 10 out of 10 rating for its smart meters, whereas E.ON Next receives 8 out of 10 in this category. For overall customer service and value for money, both suppliers score 2 out of 5.
App ratings and features
Both suppliers provide apps with over 1,000,000 installs on Google Play, though E.ON Next achieves higher ratings across both major platforms. On the App Store, E.ON Next holds a 4.8 out of 5 rating from 49,000 ratings, whereas Utilita Energy scores 4.4 from 27,000 ratings.
E.ON Next maintains its lead on Google Play, scoring 4.3 from 16,070 ratings compared to Utilita Energy's 4.1 from 61,547 ratings. Both companies actively update their software; E.ON Next released an iOS update very recently. Meanwhile, Utilita Energy's latest release notes detail a clearer account status, a progress bar for new customers, and smart meter appointment booking.
A recent sample of Utilita Energy iOS reviews indicates a lower average of 2.7 stars. Within this subset, users report a mix of helpful service alongside occasional frustration regarding doorstep representatives or general app usability.
Customer service and support
E.ON Next performs notably better in the latest Citizens Advice rankings, placing 3rd overall with a score of 3.71 out of 5. In contrast, Utilita Energy sits further down the table in 15th place, scoring 2.35.
Despite the lower overall score, Utilita Energy is faster at answering customer queries. Its average call centre wait time is just 60 seconds, compared to E.ON Next's 2 minutes 3 seconds. Utilita Energy also handles emails more efficiently, responding to 98.2% within two days, while E.ON Next manages 90.7%. Furthermore, Utilita Energy publishes a social media response time of 1 minute 28 seconds, a metric that E.ON Next does not currently report.
Both suppliers have formal vulnerability commitments registered with Citizens Advice. E.ON Next operates its phone lines from Monday to Friday, but remains closed on weekends. Utilita Energy, however, provides support seven days a week, with weekend lines open from 8am to 5pm.
Complaints and performance
Both E.ON Next and Utilita Energy have shared their complaints data for the first quarter of 2026. E.ON Next received 780 complaints for every 100,000 customers. This is about half the number Utilita Energy received, which was 1,502 complaints for every 100,000 customers.
When looking at how fast they fix problems, Utilita Energy resolved 66% of complaints by the end of the next working day. E.ON Next resolved 50.6% in the same time. Both suppliers sorted out most issues within eight weeks, with Utilita Energy reaching 91% and E.ON Next reaching 90.5%.
For E.ON Next, the main reason people complained was customer service, which made up 33.87% of cases. Payments caused 13.7% of complaints, and general billing and meter reading issues caused 11.82%.
Utilita Energy also had customer service as its top reason for complaints, making up exactly half (50%) of all cases. Payment issues were the second most common reason at 17%, followed by smart billing and meter readings at 9%.
Green Energy Comparison
E.ON Next's green energy
E.ON Next supplies a mostly renewable mix of electricity, with some fossil fuels and a small amount of nuclear. It offers a specific green tariff called Next Gust, which is backed by 100% renewable electricity from UK wind generators. The supplier also partners with the Woodland Trust, making a donation to help restore ancient woodlands for every fixed tariff it sells. As well as this, it helps customers generate their own green energy by offering discounts on solar panels and heat pumps.[1]
Utilita Energy's green energy
Utilita Energy supplies a mix of electricity that is largely fossil fuels, with some nuclear. The supplier aims for its operations to be net zero by 2030 and uses a live carbon dashboard to report on its progress. It also helps households generate their own renewable energy by installing solar panels and battery storage through its Utilita Home service.[2]
Our verdict
| If you care most about | Choose |
|---|---|
| The lowest annual cost on our assumptions | E.ON Next |
| Overall customer service | E.ON Next |
| A well-rated mobile app | E.ON Next |
| A greener fuel mix | E.ON Next |
E.ON Next wins this comparison by offering cheaper prices, higher app ratings, and a much better Citizens Advice score.
E.ON Next emerges as the stronger option in this comparison. It provides cheaper prices, including a 24-month fixed deal, and ranks significantly higher with Citizens Advice for overall customer service. The supplier also achieves better app ratings on both iOS and Android.
Utilita Energy may suit households prioritising fast call answering times and seven-day support. However, due to its higher prices and lower overall service score, E.ON Next is likely to be the more cost-effective and reliable choice for most customers.
- Cheaper overall and variable tariffs
- Ranks 3rd with Citizens Advice
- Higher app ratings on iOS and Android
- Slower average call wait times
- Phone lines closed on weekends
- Fast average call wait time of 60 seconds
- Customer service lines open on weekends
- Higher Which? survey score
- More expensive variable tariff
- No fixed tariffs in our current pricing data
- Ranks 15th with Citizens Advice
Frequently asked questions
Which supplier is better overall?
E.ON Next wins across most areas, offering cheaper prices, a higher Citizens Advice score, and better app ratings. Utilita Energy performs well on call wait times, but falls behind on price and its overall service score.
Does E.ON Next or Utilita Energy have cheaper prices?
E.ON Next is currently cheaper. Its cheapest overall tariff is £59 a year less than Utilita Energy's cheapest option. E.ON Next also offers a cheaper standard variable tariff.
What do customers say about Utilita Energy?
Customers often praise Utilita Energy for its helpful and patient staff, and good problem resolution. It holds a Trustpilot rating of 4.3 out of 5, based on a very high volume of reviews.
Which supplier has the better app?
E.ON Next scores higher on both major app platforms. It holds a 4.8 out of 5 rating on the App Store and a 4.3 out of 5 rating on Google Play, beating Utilita Energy on both.
Who answers the phone faster?
Utilita Energy has a faster average call centre wait time of 60 seconds, compared to E.ON Next's 2 minutes 3 seconds.
Should I choose E.ON Next or Utilita Energy?
If you want cheaper prices and a better overall service score, E.ON Next is the better choice. Utilita Energy may appeal if you want fast call answering times and weekend customer support.
Can I get a fixed deal with Utilita Energy?
Utilita Energy currently focuses on a standard variable tariff and does not have any fixed tariffs in the pricing data we reviewed. E.ON Next offers a range of fixed deals.
Do both suppliers offer weekend support?
Utilita Energy offers phone support on weekends, with lines open from 8am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday. E.ON Next's phone lines are closed on weekends.
Do these suppliers charge exit fees?
Utilita Energy's variable tariff has no exit fees. E.ON Next's cheapest fixed deal carries a £200 total exit fee, though its variable tariff has a £50 exit fee.
Does E.ON Next have good reviews?
Yes, E.ON Next has a strong 4.5 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot, with 74% of reviewers giving it five stars. Customers frequently mention polite staff and efficient problem resolution.
What changed this month
This month, E.ON Next's iOS sampled positive reviews fell from 1 to 0, E.ON Next's iOS sampled negative reviews fell from 1 to 0, and E.ON Next's iOS sampled neutral reviews rose from 0 to 1. There were 19 other data changes this month — see the full changelog below for details.
Data changes this month (29)
E.ON Next
- Trustpilot reviews211,533 → 219,212
- iOS app ratings count48,000 → 49,000
- iOS app days since last update9 → 4
- iOS sampled positive reviews1 → 0
- iOS sampled negative reviews1 → 0
- iOS sampled neutral reviews0 → 1
- Play Store rating4.3445005 → 4.324643
- Play Store ratings count15,798 → 16,070
- Play Store days since last update9 → 5
- Play Store positive ratings %83.5 → 82.6
- Play Store negative ratings %13.7 → 14.2
- Play Store neutral ratings %2.8 → 3.2
- Play Store net-positive %69.8 → 68.4
- Cheapest fixed tariff£1,733 → £1,745.58
- Cheapest tariff£1,733 → £1,745.58
- Cheapest fixed tariff exit fee£100 → £200
- Cheapest fixed tariff term12 months → 24 months
Utilita Energy
- Trustpilot reviews111,959 → 112,253
- Trustpilot negative reviews replied %99 → 100
- iOS app days since last update39 → 47
- iOS sampled reviews avg stars2.6 → 2.67
- iOS sampled positive reviews2 → 1
- iOS sampled negative reviews3 → 2
- Play Store rating4.136039 → 4.129011
- Play Store ratings count61,525 → 61,547
- Play Store days since last update38 → 61
- Play Store positive ratings %77.9 → 77.7
- Play Store negative ratings %18.6 → 18.7
- Play Store net-positive %59.3 → 59
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Written by
Rob Gibbs
Hi, I'm Rob, and I run Energy-Review.co.uk. I initially started this project in 2018 when I was looking to switch energy suppliers and found there wasn't a website that provided simple, data-backed reviews on all the suppliers available. Since then, I have spent a lot of time (too much, some may say!) looking at all publicly available data about each supplier and writing reviews using this information. These reviews are updated as regularly as possible, and any data is backed up by a source where necessary. I have also started writing guides on various energy-related topics, which hopefully you will find useful. If you find any issues, please use our contact form to let us know.