Your energy supplier probably has an app you're not using: here's why you should

Do you use your energy supplier's app? Nearly half of us don't, according to our survey of energy customers. But more than 70% find them useful, so yours might be worth a try.

We asked energy customers to tell us what they thought of their energy provider's app, and found that some of them seem more useful than others. 

See whether yours might be worth downloading below. 

If you're thinking of switching, see the best energy suppliers for 2024.

Best energy company apps

We asked customers who had used their energy company's app to rate it for:

• Functionality (what you can do with it)
• How easy it is to use
• How useful it is.

Ecotricity's app fared best in all three areas. More than nine in 10 customers in our survey rated it good or excellent for ease of use and its usefulness. More than eight in 10 said it had good or excellent functionality. 

Octopus Energy, Ovo Energy, Sainsbury's Energy, Shell Energy, Utilita and Utility Warehouse's apps were rated good or excellent by at least seven in 10 respondents in our survey across all three areas.

In contrast, less than half of Boost Power's customers felt that the functionality of its app was good. 

Boost and British Gas also had the lowest proportions of customers in our survey who found their apps useful.

Useful app features

The exact capability of apps vary by supplier. Here are some handy features to look out for:

• Monitor your gas and electricity use – if you have a smart meter that submits half-hourly or daily readings, some suppliers' apps include graphs showing your energy use and spend. A few split your energy use by category (such as heating and cooking). 
• Send meter readings – some even let you send photos of your meter. If you have a smart meter, you can check your readings are being received.
• Make payments, including topping-up if you have a prepayment meter. Find out which prepayment suppliers let you top up by app.
• See your account balance and latest statement.
• Find your tariff details, including end date and if an exit fee applies.

Some apps also incorporate chatbots, send you reminders, give energy-saving tips and let you adjust your direct debit payments. If you have a smart prepayment meter, some apps let you schedule automatic top-ups. 

Other unusual features we found included:

• Scottish Power's app lets you request a refund of excess credit.
• Utilita's app lets you track your carbon emissions and apply for a Power Up (borrow money towards extra credit).

Trying to cut back your energy bills? Find out how much your appliances cost to run.

How to get your energy company's app

These apps are free to download. Your energy supplier will usually provide a link to download its app from its website. Or you can search for the app in the App Store or Google Play.

You'll usually need to have at least a certain version of the operating system on your phone to support the app. For example, the British Gas app needs at least iOS version 10.0 or Android version 6.0, while Scottish Power's app needs at least iOS 15.0 and Android version 13.0.

For some features to work, such as graphs showing your daily energy use, you'll need to have a smart meter that sends your energy supplier this data.

Some suppliers offer their apps to certain groups of customers. For example EDF Energy's app is for credit and PAYG customers (not prepayment customers). 

Our energy company research

We surveyed more than 9,000 members of the general public in October 2023 and asked customers of energy firms with apps to tell us about their experience of using them.