HOUSEHOLD ENERGY · OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2026
Average UK energy bill (2026)
The typical household energy bill in Great Britain is £1,723 a year for electricity and gas paid by Direct Debit, about £144 a month, under Ofgem’s price cap for 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026.
DUAL FUEL
£1,723a year, Ofgem typical billELECTRICITY
£858a year at 2,500 kWhGAS
£865a year at 9,500 kWhPER MONTH
£144dual fuel, spread evenlyTypical electricity and gas costs
At Ofgem’s GB average rates, a typical household spends £858 a year on electricity (2,500 kWh at 26.32p per kWh plus a 54.83p daily standing charge) and £865 on gas (9,500 kWh at 7.97p per kWh plus 29.68p a day).
Low, medium and high use
Ofgem publishes three typical consumption levels. Here is what each costs a year at the GB average Direct Debit rates.
| Usage level | Electricity (kWh) | Gas (kWh) | Electricity cost | Gas cost | Dual fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 1,600 | 6,000 | £621 | £587 | £1,208 |
| Medium (typical) | 2,500 | 9,500 | £858 | £865 | £1,724 |
| High | 3,800 | 14,000 | £1,200 | £1,224 | £2,424 |
Average energy bill by region
At typical use, the annual dual-fuel cost ranges from £1,672 in East Midlands to £1,805 in Merseyside and Northern Wales.
| Region | Electricity | Gas | Dual fuel a year | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Midlands | £822 | £850 | £1,672 | £139 |
| North Western England | £829 | £856 | £1,684 | £140 |
| London | £822 | £884 | £1,706 | £142 |
| West Midlands | £849 | £859 | £1,708 | £142 |
| Eastern England | £854 | £859 | £1,713 | £143 |
| Northern Scotland | £860 | £857 | £1,717 | £143 |
| Southern England | £836 | £883 | £1,719 | £143 |
| North Eastern England | £861 | £861 | £1,722 | £144 |
| Yorkshire | £865 | £859 | £1,724 | £144 |
| Southern Scotland | £877 | £857 | £1,734 | £144 |
| South Eastern England | £863 | £872 | £1,735 | £145 |
| Southern Wales | £866 | £878 | £1,744 | £145 |
| South Western England | £867 | £878 | £1,746 | £145 |
| Merseyside and Northern Wales | £943 | £861 | £1,805 | £150 |
How you pay
Ofgem’s typical bill depends on payment method: £1,723 for direct debit, £1,861 for standard credit and £1,678 for prepayment meters.
Planning for winter
Most energy is used in the colder months. Across 2023–2025, about 77% of household gas and 56% of household electricity was used between October and March. Spreading payments evenly by Direct Debit smooths this out, but your balance may dip over winter. Plan the months ahead with the seasonal planner →
Northern Ireland
Ofgem’s typical bill and price cap cover England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland is not one of the cap regions, so these figures do not apply there.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average energy bill per month?
Ofgem’s typical dual-fuel Direct Debit bill of £1,723 a year works out at about £144 a month, spread evenly. Real Direct Debits vary with your usage, region and tariff.
How much energy does a typical household use?
Ofgem’s typical (medium) household uses 2,500 kWh of electricity and 9,500 kWh of gas a year. Its low-use values are 1,600 kWh and 6,000 kWh; high-use values are 3,800 kWh and 14,000 kWh.
Is the average bill the same as the price cap?
No. The cap limits unit rates and standing charges, not your total bill. £1,723 is what a typical household would pay at the capped rates; a household that uses more pays more.
Why is my bill higher than the average?
Higher energy use, a region with higher rates, paying by standard credit, or a tariff above the cap can all lead to a bill above the typical figure. Use our calculator with the rates and usage on your own bill.
About these figures
Typical bills are Ofgem’s; other costs are calculated from published two-decimal cap rates, so totals can differ from Ofgem’s rounded figures by about £1. They are benchmarks for a default tariff at typical use, not an average of what every household actually pays or a supplier quote.
Sources
- Ofgem: energy price cap will rise by 4% from October 2026 ↗Typical bill and change.
- Ofgem: summary of changes to the energy price cap (PDF) ↗Typical bills by payment method.
- Ofgem: energy price cap unit rates and standing charges ↗GB average Direct Debit rates.
- Ofgem: typical domestic consumption values decision (PDF) ↗Low, medium and high usage values, from 1 July 2026.
- Ofgem: cap tables, October–December 2026 (PDF) ↗Regional rates.
- DESNZ: Energy Trends quarterly gas and electricity consumption ↗Household seasonal pattern, 2023–2025.
Last updated 11 October 2026. Figures are dated benchmarks taken from the sources above. How we use sources →