Student Bills 101 – A handy guide to energy, bills and more

We get it – energy bills aren’t the most exciting thing about university life and we also know that life can be expensive for students. 

To make your life a little easier, here's a guide with all the information you need: from finding a great deal and energy bills saving tips, to cutting your carbon footprint and splitting bills with your housemates.

Jump to different sections:

• Making energy easy for students
• What key energy terms mean
• How to shop around for the best student energy deal
• Choosing the best energy supplier as a student
• Energy that helps you lower your carbon footprint
• How to switch to your new student energy tariff
• Why students may not be able to switch energy suppliers
• Top tips for managing student energy bills
• How to split energy bills with housemates
• How to manage energy when moving to a new student house or accommodation
• Energy saving tips for students
• Other student utility bills you may need to pay

Making energy easy for students

We've a great range of low-cost, easy-to-manage energy tariffs to help you get a good deal! 

Key energy terms every student should know

French? Italian? Energy? It can feel like energy suppliers are talking a different language. Here're some of the key terms and phrases you might see when doing your energy homework;

• A tariff is an energy contract. It’s the same as a mobile phone or broadband contract, but for energy - check out our guide to choosing the best tariff for you
• A fixed energy tariff locks in the price you pay for each unit of energy you use for the length of the contract (usually one or two years). Don't forget, check the contract length - 18 month contracts aren't usually suited to students
• A variable energy tariff means your prices can go up and down. So, you might find that a good deal now isn’t such a good deal in six months
• A dual fuel tariff means you’ll have both your gas and electricity on the same tariff, and it is generally easier and cheaper. If your house only uses electricity, you’ll get a single fuel tariff
• Exit fees mean you’ll need to pay to cancel your contract early
• Pay As You Go is a handy way of only paying for the energy you use. You’ll need a smart meter, but once you’re set-up, you can see how much energy you're using and how much it's costing you
• 'Green energy' might not be what it seems. Some suppliers really do generate renewable or green energy, but not everyone. Other suppliers buy things called REGO certificates to 'greenwash' their dirty energy, so what you think you're getting isn't as good for the planet as you thought. We're proud to be Britain’s biggest generator of zero-carbon electricity from wind, nuclear and solar.⁽¹⁾
• Kilowatt-hour (kWh) is the standard unit of energy that you'll be billed for using. It's how much energy you're charged for using electricity or gas per hour. You can calculate the running costs of all household appliances in kWhs — some are more expensive to run than others, like air conditioning units. 

How to shop around for the best student energy deal

Getting an energy quote for a great deal is simple. You can do it online; all you need to know is:

• Your address/postcode
• Your current energy provider (ask your landlord or letting agent, or see if you’ve got a letter from them)
• Some info about your house (like how many bedrooms there are)

Don’t have a bill to hand? No worries – you can get a quote without one.

You might get letters from the old energy provider or to the old tenants through the post. Don’t worry about them either; they must write to the new tenants, but you can shop around and find the right deal.

Already with EDF? Even better! Just get in touch and we’ll help find the best deal for you.

You may also find it helpful to read our handy guide on switching energy suppliers.

Choosing the best energy supplier as a student

It's not easy choosing a supplier - there's a lot of us out there! Think about your needs, for example: 

• Is the deal they’re offering below the energy price cap? For example, EDF's Tracker tariff is guaranteed to always be below the cap⁽²⁾.
• Can you get a gift card through Student Beans if you get your energy from a particular supplier? For example, we partnered with Student Beans to help make a little difference to students who have to pay their own energy bills by offering a student energy discount gift card
• Do you want to switch to a fixed-rate deal, so the unit price you pay is fixed for the length of your contract?
• What about customer service? EDF is rated excellent on Trustpilot
• What’s the company’s record when it comes to low carbon energy and renewables? EDF is Britain's biggest generator of zero carbon electricity!⁽¹⁾

Energy that helps you lower your carbon footprint

We're proud to be Britain's biggest generator of zero carbon electricity⁽¹⁾. We don't just sell it - we make it! Some energy companies talk big when it comes to achieving net zero, but we're doing everything we can, including generating the right mix of wind, nuclear and solar electricity to make sure we're powering the nation every day. We're serious about Britain achieving its net zero target, and you can be a part of our journey.

How to switch to your new student energy tariff 

• We'll talk to your current provider so you don’t have to
• We'll get in touch when we need a meter reading(s)
• We'll let you know when you’re fully on board
• You can start managing your energy online or on our handy EDF app. It’s that easy.

Why students may not be able to switch energy suppliers

If you've already been paying for your energy, you can't switch energy provider if you've been in debt to your supplier for more than 28 days. You need to repay the debt first before you can move to your new supplier or tariff.

Top tips for managing student energy bills

You can do a couple of things to make your life easier when it comes to managing your bills. A bit of admin now, could save you time in the future when it comes to managing energy in a house share or with your flatmates.

• Register for MyAccount so you can do all your energy admin online, 24/7. Get the app from the App Store or Google Play
• Put your names on the account. Adding everyone’s names means you can all talk to your supplier about your energy. That way if someone moves out, you can keep on top of things
• Find your meter(s) and take a reading the day you move in. This way, you only pay for your energy (and not the tenants before you). It’s always best to send readings when we ask for them so you get accurate bills. If you’ve got a smart meter, you don’t need to – they do the hard work for you!
• Pay by Direct Debit so you don't have to worry about surprise bills - it's also the cheapest way to pay! Your energy spend gets evened out over twelve months, and payments get taken automatically each month

How to split energy bills with housemates

Splitting the bill with your housemates used to mean sitting around the table with a paper bill and a calculator. Not anymore! Splitting your bill is easy with apps like Splitwise. Or, if you have an account with a bank like Monzo you can create a shared tab or a standing order that'll pay your share automatically each month.

Plus, if you're already paying by Direct Debit, you can just set up a regular monthly split to whoever is paying the bill – no more chasing people for money.

How to manage energy when moving to a new student house or student accommodation

Whether moving out of halls to a student house-share or getting a flat on your own, there are many things to remember when moving to new accommodation.

Our full moving house checklist details what companies, bills and accounts you need to notify when changing address.

Energy saving tips for students to keep bills low

Find out about our favourite energy-saving tips to help save money year-round.

Reduce your energy usage

Other student utility bills and house bills you may need to pay...

Unfortunately, it's not just your energy bill you'll have to pay. Good news - if you're a full-time student, you don't have to pay council tax. 

Here're some of the basic bills you'll need to probably pay:

• Rent - do check your contract to see if bills are included in the price you're paying to rent
• Water and sewage - many student landlords sort the water bill - but do check if it's included in your rent
• Student contents insurance - this covers items such as your laptop, phone and jewellery. It's worth checking if you're covered by your parent's policy
• Broadband - compare providers to make sure you get the best deal for your needs
• Do students need a TV licence? There's lots of different rules, so, to make sure you're paying what you should as a student, we suggest you visit TV Licensing
• Mobile phone bill - compare what different providers offer - some give discount to students!