Average Gas & Electricity Prices per kWh (2026)
The amount you pay for gas and electricity depends on a few different factors, but the biggest influence for most households is the Ofgem price cap.
Contents
Current average energy prices in Great Britain
The amount you pay for gas and electricity depends on a few different factors, but the biggest influence for most households is the Ofgem price cap. The current cap runs from 1 July to 30 September 2026. It sets a maximum limit on the unit rates and standing charges that suppliers can charge customers on standard variable tariffs.
The headline figure of £1,663 a year is based on a household paying by Direct Debit with "typical" energy use. As of 1 July 2026, Ofgem lowered its official estimate of typical use because homes are generally using less energy than they used to. The new baseline assumes a typical household uses 9,500 kWh of gas and 2,500 kWh of electricity each year.
Average electricity prices by region
Electricity prices are not the same across the country. The cost of running and upgrading the local power grid varies depending on where you live. It also costs different amounts to transport electricity from the power stations and wind farms where it is generated to your local area. Suppliers pass these local network costs on through your unit rates and standing charges.
Below are the average electricity unit rates for the 14 energy regions in Great Britain, sorted from cheapest to most expensive, based on the July to September 2026 price cap for Direct Debit customers.
| Region | Average electricity unit rate (July 2026) |
|---|---|
| East Midlands | 25.10p per kWh |
| Northern | 25.22p per kWh |
| Yorkshire | 25.31p per kWh |
| Midlands | 25.33p per kWh |
| Southern Scotland | 25.85p per kWh |
| Great Britain average | 26.11p per kWh |
| North West | 26.13p per kWh |
| South Wales | 26.33p per kWh |
| London | 26.35p per kWh |
| Eastern | 26.38p per kWh |
| Southern Western | 26.39p per kWh |
| Northern Scotland | 26.42p per kWh |
| Southern | 26.42p per kWh |
| South East | 26.67p per kWh |
| North Wales and Mersey | 27.66p per kWh |
The East Midlands currently has the cheapest electricity unit rate in Great Britain, while North Wales and Mersey is the most expensive. The gap between the cheapest and most expensive regions is around 2.5p per kWh, which can add up to a noticeable difference over a full year of electricity use.
Average gas prices by region
Just like electricity, gas prices change depending on your region. The differences are driven by the cost of maintaining local gas pipes and how far the gas needs to travel through the national network to reach your home.
Here are the average gas unit rates for each region under the July to September 2026 price cap, assuming you pay by Direct Debit.
| Region | Average gas unit rate (July 2026) |
|---|---|
| East Midlands | 7.19p per kWh |
| Northern Scotland | 7.23p per kWh |
| Southern Scotland | 7.23p per kWh |
| North West | 7.24p per kWh |
| Eastern | 7.26p per kWh |
| Yorkshire | 7.27p per kWh |
| Midlands | 7.27p per kWh |
| North Wales and Mersey | 7.28p per kWh |
| Northern | 7.28p per kWh |
| Great Britain average | 7.33p per kWh |
| South East | 7.39p per kWh |
| South Wales | 7.42p per kWh |
| Southern Western | 7.48p per kWh |
| London | 7.50p per kWh |
| Southern | 7.53p per kWh |
The East Midlands also benefits from the cheapest gas rates, while the Southern region pays the most. The regional gap for gas is smaller than it is for electricity, but because households typically use nearly four times as much gas as electricity for heating and hot water, these small fractions of a penny still impact your final bill.
Understanding your standing charges
Your energy bill is made up of two parts: the unit rate for the energy you actually use, and a fixed daily standing charge. You pay the standing charge no matter how much gas or electricity you use, even if your usage is zero. It covers the cost of keeping your home connected to the energy network, maintaining wires and pipes, and covering the cost of suppliers that have gone out of business.
Under the July 2026 price cap, the average standing charges for a Direct Debit customer are 57.19p per day for electricity and 29.04p per day for gas.
There was a major change to how standing charges are calculated on 1 April 2026. Previously, standing charges included the cost of funding the Warm Home Discount scheme. The government moved this cost off the standing charge and onto the unit rate instead. Ofgem said this reduced average dual-fuel standing charges by around £13 a year, shifting more of the cost towards households that use more energy.
The Warm Home Discount itself currently offers a £150 winter rebate to eligible low-income and pensioner households. A recent rule change removed the "high cost to heat" property assessment in England and Wales, which automatically expanded the scheme to cover around 6 million households.
How your payment method changes the price
The rates you pay are heavily influenced by how you choose to settle your bill. Ofgem sets different price caps for different payment methods because suppliers face different administration costs and financial risks depending on how you pay.
Standard credit means you pay for your energy after you receive a bill, usually by cash, cheque, or card payment. Suppliers charge more for this method because it costs them more to process the payments and carries a higher risk of late payment or debt. Paying by a monthly automated Direct Debit is generally cheaper, though rates can differ by payment method, so compare the tariff available for your meter and how you pay.
Why did prices change in July 2026?
The July 2026 price cap brought a 13% overall increase compared to the previous quarter (April to June 2026). However, the price rises were not split evenly between gas and electricity. Three main factors drove the changes to your unit rates.
Fixed vs variable tariffs
The Ofgem price cap only applies to standard variable tariffs (SVTs). If you are on an SVT, your unit rates and standing charges will change every three months when Ofgem updates the cap. The next cap, covering October to December 2026, will be announced in late August 2026. Early analyst forecasts suggest rates will remain roughly stable or see a minor increase.
You do not have to stay on a variable tariff. Many suppliers offer fixed-rate tariffs, which lock in your unit rates and standing charges for a set period, usually 12 months. Fixing gives you certainty over your costs and protects you from future price hikes. However, if wholesale energy prices drop and Ofgem lowers the price cap, you will miss out on the savings unless you pay an exit fee to leave your fixed deal early.
What is a kilowatt-hour (kWh)?
Energy suppliers charge you for gas and electricity by the kilowatt-hour (kWh). A kWh is simply a unit of measurement that shows how much energy you have used over time. It equals using 1,000 watts of power for exactly one hour.
To put that into perspective, using 1 kWh of electricity looks like this:
- Leaving a 100-watt lightbulb switched on for 10 hours.
- Running a 2,000-watt electric heater for 30 minutes.
- Using a 1,000-watt microwave at full power for one hour.
You can find the wattage of any electrical appliance in your home by checking its label or packaging. The higher the wattage, the faster it will use up a kilowatt-hour of energy.
Frequently asked questions
Does the energy price cap mean my bill won't go over £1,663?
No. The £1,663 figure is just an average based on a typical household's usage. The cap actually limits the maximum amount your supplier can charge you for each unit of energy and your daily standing charge. If you use a lot of energy, your bill will be higher than the average.
Why is electricity more expensive than gas per kWh?
Electricity usually costs more per kWh than gas for households because it has different generation, network and policy costs. Much of the UK's electricity is still generated by burning gas in power stations, which involves energy losses during the conversion process. Electricity standing charges and unit rates also carry more of the costs for maintaining the national grid and funding green energy schemes.
Sources
Are standing charges the same for everyone?
No, standing charges vary widely depending on where you live and how you pay for your energy. It costs different amounts to maintain the energy network in different regions, and suppliers pass these local costs on to customers. Customers paying by standard credit also face different standing charges to those paying by Direct Debit.
When will the next energy price cap be announced?
Ofgem reviews and changes the price cap every three months. The next cap update will be announced in late August 2026, and those new rates will apply to your bills from 1 October to 31 December 2026.
Related reviews and comparisons
100Green Review
100Green, formerly known as Green Energy UK, is an independent energy supplier based in Hertfordshire. Set up in 2001, it is one of the UK's oldest independent energy suppliers outside the traditional big firms. Today, it operates as one of the UK's smaller domestic energy suppliers, focusing entire
Read review→
Good Energy Review
Good Energy is one of the UK's oldest dedicated green energy suppliers, having been founded over 25 years ago. In April 2025, the company was bought by the Dubai-headquartered smart grid company Esyasoft for about £99 million. Today, it remains a recognised name in the UK domestic green energy marke
Read review→
Cheapest Fixed Energy Tariffs in the UK
As we head into summer and heating usage drops, many households take the opportunity to reassess their energy bills. When considering a fixed tariff, the main challenge is balancing price certainty with flexibility. A fixed deal locks in your unit rates and standing charge for the duration of the co
Read article→
British Gas Review
British Gas is one of the UK's most recognised energy brands and one of the biggest domestic suppliers in the country. It is owned by Centrica, a large energy and services group. As well as supplying gas and electricity to homes, British Gas offers a wide range of home services, including boiler cov
Read review→
Cheapest Energy Suppliers in the UK
During summer, when heating usage typically drops, many households take the opportunity to reassess their energy bills. When comparing deals this month, your main choice is between the price certainty of a fixed tariff, the flexibility of a variable option, or a tracker tariff that moves with wholes
Read article→Related guides
How to decide if a zero standing charge tariff is right for you
Every day, your energy supplier charges you a fixed fee just for being connected to the grid. This happens even if you do not turn on a single light switch or boil a kettle. For many people, this daily fee feels unfair, especially during the summer months when energy use drops or when a property sit
Read guide→
Should I fix my energy price/deal?
Deciding whether to fix your energy tariff or stay on a standard variable rate is one of the most common questions for UK households. For a long time, the advice was simple: always fix, because standard variable tariffs were expensive default options. The energy crisis changed those rules entirely,
Read guide→
What is collective energy switching?
Research published in February 2026 found that one in four households on standard tariffs had not switched supplier in more than three years. This leaves millions of people stuck on standard variable tariffs, which are usually the most expensive way to pay for gas and electricity. Consumer habit mea
Read guide→
Written by
Rob Gibbs
Hi, I'm Rob, and I run Energy-Review.co.uk. I initially started this project in 2018 when I was looking to switch energy suppliers and found there wasn't a website that provided simple, data-backed reviews on all the suppliers available. Since then, I have spent a lot of time (too much, some may say!) looking at all publicly available data about each supplier and writing reviews using this information. These reviews are updated as regularly as possible, and any data is backed up by a source where necessary. I have also started writing guides on various energy-related topics, which hopefully you will find useful. If you find any issues, please use our contact form to let us know.