E.ON Next Utilita Energy (September 2026)
Overview
E.ON Next wins this comparison by offering much cheaper tariffs and a higher Citizens Advice score, though Utilita Energy answers calls faster.
E.ON Next is the overall winner, offering cheaper tariffs and higher scores from Citizens Advice and Trustpilot. Utilita Energy performs better on call wait times and Which? ratings, but its focus on prepayment means its Smart Energy tariff costs more than E.ON Next's cheapest fixed and variable tariffs.
About E.ON Next and Utilita Energy
Who is E.ON Next?
E.ON Next is part of the wider E.ON group and was set up to take on customers from npower. Today, it is one of the UK's largest domestic energy suppliers. The company runs on the Kraken platform to manage accounts and gives households a dedicated team of energy specialists to speak to. It also announced a planned takeover of OVO Energy in May 2026, which would increase its scale in the retail market.
Who is Utilita Energy?
Founded in 2003, Utilita Energy is privately owned by Luxion Group and is one of the UK's established suppliers. The company focuses on smart pay-as-you-go energy and became a prepayment-only supplier after selling its credit-meter customers to EDF in late 2025. What sets it apart is its lack of standing charges, its emergency credit features, and its high street Energy Hubs where customers can get face-to-face help.
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Tariffs and pricing
E.ON Next's cheapest overall tariff is the Next Fixed 24m Exclusive v11, a fixed deal costing £1,510 a year. This is £101 a year cheaper than Utilita Energy's cheapest option, the Smart Energy variable tariff, which costs £1,611 a year. The E.ON Next tariff comes with a 24-month term and a £200 total exit fee, whereas Utilita Energy's variable tariff has no fixed term and no exit fee.
For households looking for a variable tariff, E.ON Next offers the Next Pledge Tracker 12m v12 at £1,560 a year, which is £50 a year less than Utilita Energy's variable deal. While E.ON Next provides several fixed options, Utilita Energy focuses on pay-as-you-go energy and has no fixed tariffs in our current pricing data.
Tariff Options
E.ON Next
E.ON Next offers standard variable and fixed options alongside specialist tariffs for electric vehicle drivers, heat pump owners, and homes with solar panels.[1]
Utilita Energy
Utilita Energy focuses on the pay-as-you-go market, offering a standard variable tariff designed for customers with smart prepayment meters.
Customer reviews
E.ON Next holds a Trustpilot rating of 4.5 out of 5, based on over 225,000 reviews. Customers frequently state that the staff are helpful and ensure installations are handled cleanly. Many individuals switching providers also note that the transition is well-communicated. However, some reviewers mention rising costs and point out communication gaps when trying to get support.
Utilita Energy scores 4.3 out of 5 on Trustpilot from over 112,000 reviews. Customers frequently mention that the advisors are efficient when addressing account issues. Some reviewers appreciate the compassionate approach of the customer service team, noting that they put anxious callers at ease during stressful situations. Both suppliers reply to 99% of their negative reviews.
In the annual Which? survey, Utilita Energy scores 68 out of 100, placing it ahead of E.ON Next at 66. Utilita Energy scores 10 out of 10 for smart meters and 10 out of 10 for help for those who need it. E.ON Next scores 8 out of 10 for smart meters and 9 out of 10 for help for those who need it.
App quality and features
E.ON Next has a Play Store rating of 4.3 out of 5 from over 16,000 ratings, though its iOS rating is not currently available in our data. The Android app has been updated recently, and 83.1% of its ratings are positive.
Utilita Energy scores 4.4 out of 5 on the App Store from 27,000 ratings, and 4.1 out of 5 on the Play Store from over 61,000 ratings. Both apps have more than 1,000,000 installs. Recent updates to the Utilita Energy app include fixes for the Power Up feature and updates to the marketing consent sections.
Customer service and support
E.ON Next ranks 3rd in the Citizens Advice table with an overall score of 3.71 out of 5, while Utilita Energy ranks 15th with a score of 2.35 out of 5. Both suppliers have formal vulnerability commitments registered with Citizens Advice.
Utilita Energy answers customer calls faster, with an average call centre wait time of 1 minute. In contrast, E.ON Next takes an average of 2 minutes 3 seconds to answer calls. Utilita Energy also responds to 98.2% of emails within two days, compared to 90.7% for E.ON Next.
Utilita Energy replies to social media messages in an average of 1 minute 28 seconds, whereas E.ON Next does not publish this data. E.ON Next's phone lines are open Monday to Thursday 9am to 5pm, and Friday 9am to 4pm. Utilita Energy's lines are open weekdays 8am to 8pm, and weekends 8am to 5pm.
Complaints and performance
In the second quarter of 2026, E.ON Next received fewer complaints than Utilita Energy. E.ON Next had 760 complaints for every 100,000 customers, while Utilita Energy had 946.
Even though Utilita Energy received more complaints, it solved them faster. Utilita Energy fixed 66% of complaints by the end of the next working day, compared to 49.61% for E.ON Next. Utilita Energy also solved 93% of complaints within eight weeks, while E.ON Next solved 89.69%.
For both suppliers, customer service was the main reason people complained. This made up 32.28% of complaints for E.ON Next and 42% for Utilita Energy. Payment issues were the second most common problem for both companies.
Green Energy Comparison
E.ON Next
E.ON Next supplies a mostly renewable mix of electricity. The supplier offers 100% renewable electricity on specific deals, such as its wind-backed and electric vehicle tariffs. It also sells solar panels, home batteries, and heat pumps to help customers lower their carbon footprint. As well as this, all of its fixed tariffs include a one-off donation to the Woodland Trust to help restore ancient woodlands.[1]
Utilita Energy
Utilita Energy supplies a mix that is largely fossil fuels, with some nuclear and other sources. We did not identify an equivalent dedicated green tariff in Utilita Energy's current published domestic range when checked. the supplier sells and installs solar panels and battery storage to help homes generate their own power. It also uses an Energy Grid Tracker to show customers the real-time carbon footprint of the UK grid and aims to reach net zero for its own operations by 2030.[2][3]
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 | Utilita Energy |
| A greener fuel mix | E.ON Next |
E.ON Next wins this comparison by offering much cheaper tariffs and a higher Citizens Advice score, though Utilita Energy answers calls faster.
E.ON Next wins this comparison, offering cheaper tariffs and a higher Citizens Advice score. It also has a higher Trustpilot rating and a higher Play Store score.
Utilita Energy may suit households that prioritise fast customer service, as it answers calls and emails more quickly. It also scores higher in the Which? survey and offers longer opening hours, but its lack of a cheaper fixed tariff makes it more expensive overall.
- £101 a year cheaper overall tariff
- Ranks 3rd with Citizens Advice
- 4.5-star Trustpilot rating
- Longer call centre wait times
- Phone lines closed on weekends
- Average call wait time of 1 minute
- Phone lines open seven days a week
- Higher Which? customer satisfaction score
- More expensive standard variable tariff
- Ranks 15th with Citizens Advice
- No fixed tariff in our current data
Frequently asked questions
Which supplier is better overall, E.ON Next or Utilita Energy?
E.ON Next is the overall winner, as it offers much cheaper tariffs and ranks higher with Citizens Advice. Utilita Energy is a good alternative if you want faster call answer times and longer customer service opening hours.
Does E.ON Next or Utilita Energy have cheaper tariffs?
E.ON Next is cheaper. Its cheapest overall tariff is £101 a year less than Utilita Energy's cheapest option. E.ON Next also offers a variable tariff that is £50 a year cheaper than Utilita Energy's standard variable deal.
What do customers say about E.ON Next and Utilita Energy on Trustpilot?
E.ON Next has a Trustpilot rating of 4.5 out of 5, with customers praising its helpful staff and smooth switching process. Utilita Energy scores 4.3 out of 5, with reviewers frequently highlighting its compassionate and efficient customer service team.
Which supplier has the better mobile app?
E.ON Next has a higher Play Store rating of 4.3 out of 5, compared to Utilita Energy's 4.1. Utilita Energy has a strong App Store rating of 4.4 out of 5, while E.ON Next's iOS rating is not currently available in our data.
Does E.ON Next or Utilita Energy answer calls faster?
Utilita Energy answers calls faster, with an average wait time of 1 minute. E.ON Next takes an average of 2 minutes 3 seconds to answer customer calls.
Should I choose E.ON Next or Utilita Energy?
E.ON Next is the better choice for most households, as it offers significantly cheaper tariffs and a higher Citizens Advice score. However, Utilita Energy is a strong alternative if you value fast customer service and prefer to use a smart prepayment meter.
Can I get a fixed energy deal with Utilita Energy?
Utilita Energy focuses on pay-as-you-go energy and does not have any fixed tariffs in our current pricing data. E.ON Next offers several fixed options, including a 24-month deal.
What are the opening hours for E.ON Next and Utilita Energy?
E.ON Next's phone lines are open Monday to Thursday 9am to 5pm, and Friday 9am to 4pm. Utilita Energy offers longer hours, with phone lines open weekdays 8am to 8pm, and weekends 8am to 5pm.
What changed this month
This month, E.ON Next's iOS app updates in last 90 days fell from 3 to 0, Utilita Energy's iOS sampled negative reviews fell from 2 to 0, and E.ON Next's iOS sampled neutral reviews fell from 1 to 0. There were 26 other data changes this month — see the full changelog below for details.
Data changes this month (34)
E.ON Next
- Trustpilot reviews219,212 → 225,716
- Trustpilot 5-star %74 → 75
- Trustpilot 4-star %12 → 11
- iOS app rating4.8 → no longer available
- iOS app ratings count49,000 → no longer available
- iOS app days since last update4 → no longer available
- iOS app updates in last 90 days3 → 0
- iOS sampled reviews avg stars3 → no longer available
- iOS sampled neutral reviews1 → 0
- Play Store rating4.324643 → 4.340909
- Play Store ratings count16,070 → 16,278
- Play Store days since last update5 → 4
- Play Store positive ratings %82.6 → 83.1
- Play Store negative ratings %14.2 → 13.8
- Play Store net-positive %68.4 → 69.3
- Cheapest variable tariff£1,747 → £1,560.38
- Cheapest fixed tariff£1,745.58 → £1,509.55
- Cheapest tariff£1,745.58 → £1,509.55
- Tariff count5 → 6
- Fixed tariffs available3 → 4
Utilita Energy
- Trustpilot reviews112,253 → 112,483
- Trustpilot negative reviews replied %100 → 99
- iOS app days since last update47 → 12
- iOS sampled reviews avg stars2.67 → 4
- iOS sampled negative reviews2 → 0
- Play Store rating4.129011 → 4.1229296
- Play Store ratings count61,547 → 61,566
- Play Store days since last update61 → 12
- Play Store positive ratings %77.7 → 77.5
- Play Store negative ratings %18.7 → 18.9
- Play Store neutral ratings %3.6 → 3.7
- Play Store net-positive %59 → 58.6
- Cheapest variable tariff£1,804.59 → £1,610.67
- Cheapest tariff£1,804.59 → £1,610.67
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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.
Comments (1)
Good advice before i committed