Dual fuel is an arrangement where a single supplier provides both gas and electricity to a home, usually billed together on one account. It contrasts with taking each fuel from a different supplier on separate contracts.
In one line: Dual fuel means buying both gas and electricity from the same supplier, often on a single combined bill.
How dual fuel works
With dual fuel, one account covers both fuels, simplifying billing and payment. Each fuel still carries its own standing charge and unit rate, so two sets of charges appear within the combined statement.
A household might pay a dual-fuel supplier 81 GBP of standing charges and 140 GBP of usage across a quarter, all on one bill, rather than receiving and reconciling two separate supplier statements.
Some suppliers offer a small dual-fuel discount, but the saving is not guaranteed, and splitting fuels between suppliers can sometimes be cheaper depending on each tariff.
Dual fuel vs separate suppliers
Dual fuel consolidates gas and electricity with one supplier on one account, while a separate-supplier setup keeps the two fuels on independent contracts with their own bills.
Splitting fuels can occasionally beat a dual-fuel deal on price, but means managing two relationships, two payment dates and two switching processes.
Primary source: Ofgem: Get help with energy