STANDING CHARGES · OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2026
Energy standing charges by region (October–December 2026)
Under the price cap, the average standing charge in Great Britain is 54.83p a day for electricity and 29.68p a day for gas. A dual-fuel home pays £308 a year in standing charges before it uses any energy.
ELECTRICITY
54.83pa day, GB average (£200 a year)GAS
29.68pa day, GB average (£108 a year)LOWEST COMBINED
£267a year in LondonHIGHEST COMBINED
£357a year in Merseyside and Northern WalesStanding charges in every region
Electricity standing charges range from 42.92p a day in London to 67.66p in Merseyside and Northern Wales, a gap of £90 a year. Gas varies much less. Regions are sorted from the lowest combined charge.
| Region | Electricity (p/day) | Gas (p/day) | Both (p/day) | Both a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | 42.92 | 30.20 | 73.12 | £267 |
| North Western England | 45.68 | 29.81 | 75.49 | £276 |
| Southern England | 47.81 | 29.16 | 76.97 | £281 |
| East Midlands | 51.45 | 29.41 | 80.86 | £295 |
| Eastern England | 51.84 | 29.34 | 81.18 | £296 |
| South Eastern England | 52.32 | 29.26 | 81.58 | £298 |
| South Western England | 55.58 | 29.31 | 84.89 | £310 |
| Northern Scotland | 55.14 | 29.87 | 85.01 | £310 |
| Southern Wales | 55.41 | 29.96 | 85.37 | £312 |
| West Midlands | 57.23 | 29.71 | 86.94 | £317 |
| Southern Scotland | 61.41 | 29.89 | 91.30 | £333 |
| North Eastern England | 61.58 | 29.79 | 91.37 | £334 |
| Yorkshire | 61.67 | 29.77 | 91.44 | £334 |
| Merseyside and Northern Wales | 67.66 | 30.08 | 97.74 | £357 |
| GB average | 54.83 | 29.68 | 84.51 | £308 |
How much of your bill is standing charges
Because the standing charge is fixed, it is a bigger share of the bill for homes that use less energy. At the GB average rates and Ofgem’s typical consumption values:
| Usage level | Electricity use | Share of electricity bill | Gas use | Share of gas bill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 1,600 kWh | 32% | 6,000 kWh | 18% |
| Medium | 2,500 kWh | 23% | 9,500 kWh | 13% |
| High | 3,800 kWh | 17% | 14,000 kWh | 9% |
For a low electricity user, about 32% of the year’s electricity bill is standing charges. Cutting usage lowers only the unit-rate part.
What standing charges pay for
A standing charge is a fixed daily amount on your tariff that applies even on days you use no energy. It covers costs that do not depend on how much you use, including part of the cost of the networks that carry energy to your home. Ofgem puts network costs at about 24% of a typical capped Direct Debit bill for October–December 2026. The cap limits the standing charge on default tariffs; it does not limit your total bill.
Unit rates and standing charges explained →
Frequently asked questions
What is the average standing charge?
Under the price cap from 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026, the GB average Direct Debit standing charge is 54.83p a day for electricity and 29.68p a day for gas: £308 a year for both.
Which region has the highest standing charge?
Merseyside and Northern Wales has the highest electricity standing charge, 67.66p a day, and London the lowest, 42.92p. Gas standing charges range from 29.16p a day in Southern England to 30.20p in London.
Do I pay the standing charge if I use no energy?
Yes. The standing charge applies every day you are supplied, including days when you use no energy. It is charged per fuel, so a dual-fuel home pays two.
Why are standing charges so different between regions?
Ofgem sets a separate cap for each region, and part of the standing charge pays for the local network. Network costs make up about 24% of a typical capped Direct Debit bill this period, according to Ofgem, and they differ from region to region.
Can I get a tariff without a standing charge?
The price cap sets a maximum standing charge, not a required one, so a supplier can offer a tariff with a lower standing charge or none. Whether such a tariff is cheaper depends on its unit rate and how much energy you use; compare both prices with our calculator.
About these figures
Regional standing charges are derived from Ofgem’s published nil-consumption cap levels, rounded to the penny, so they can differ from a supplier’s tariff by a fraction of a penny. They apply to default tariffs paid by Direct Debit; other payment methods and fixed tariffs have different charges.
Sources
- Ofgem: energy price cap unit rates and standing charges ↗GB average Direct Debit standing charges and VAT basis.
- Ofgem: cap tables, October–December 2026 (PDF) ↗Regional nil-consumption charges used to derive each region’s standing charges.
- Ofgem: summary of changes to the energy price cap (PDF) ↗Cost breakdown of the Direct Debit cap, Annex 1.
- Ofgem: energy price cap and standing charges explained ↗
- Ofgem: typical domestic consumption values decision (PDF) ↗
Last updated 11 October 2026. Figures are dated benchmarks taken from the sources above. How we use sources →