Is My Energy Bill Normal?
Enter your annual spend and tariff rates to compare it with Ofgem's low, medium and high consumption bands. This is a benchmark, not a decision that your supplier has overcharged you.
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Twelve direct debits are only a rough starting amount if your account balance is changing. An annual statement is better.
Enter the annual amount and every rate shown for your selected setup. Enter 0 only where your tariff genuinely has no standing charge.
| Band | Electricity | Gas | At your rates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low use | 1,600 kWh | 6,000 kWh | — |
| Medium use | 2,500 kWh | 9,500 kWh | — |
| High use | 3,800 kWh | 14,000 kWh | — |
There is no single average energy bill
Ofgem's headline price-cap bill is its Medium consumption level costed at the relevant cap rates, not an average of bills paid. Your result can differ because of your usage, tariff, meter, payment method or region.
What the result means
A result above the High band means the amount is above the costed benchmark at the rates entered. It does not identify the cause. Electric heating, an EV, a large or poorly insulated home and more time at home can all raise consumption legitimately.
Checks to make
- Confirm the amount covers a full, comparable year.
- Check whether the readings are actual or estimated.
- Compare the unit rates and standing charges with your tariff.
- Compare annual kWh, not only the direct debit amount.
If those checks suggest a billing problem, use the complaint letter generator. If the bill is correct but unaffordable, check the grants and schemes page and contact your supplier about an affordable payment plan.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average energy bill in the UK?
There is no single figure. Ofgem publishes Typical Domestic Consumption Values — Low, Medium and High usage levels — and uses the Medium values to communicate an illustrative annual price-cap bill. From 1 July 2026, the Medium single-rate electricity value is 2,500 kWh a year and the Medium gas value is 9,500 kWh. What that costs depends on the rates entered.
My bill is above the high band. Is my supplier overcharging me?
Not necessarily. Ofgem’s usage levels are universal benchmarks rather than limits for a particular home. Check that the amount covers a comparable year, that the entered rates match the tariff, and that the bill uses actual rather than estimated readings. Then compare the annual kWh with the published levels; the calculator does not diagnose an overcharge.
Should I use my direct debit or my actual usage?
Your direct debit multiplied by twelve is a reasonable starting point, but be aware it is what your supplier predicted rather than what you used. If your account is building a large credit or debit balance, the direct debit is not tracking your consumption and the annual statement is a truer figure.
Does this compare me to my neighbours?
No. It compares you to a published national standard. Neighbour comparisons in supplier apps are drawn from properties of similar size nearby, which is useful but is not a regulated figure and varies with how that supplier defines "similar".
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