Energy price cap calculator by region
Calculate your energy costs from regional cap rates and compare a supplier quote.
After you calculate
See your energy bill estimate
Add your region, tariff and energy use, then calculate to see your results.
Annual energy bill
Shown after calculationMonthly average
Shown after calculationGas and electricity
Standing charges
Full calculation
Uses your selected regional rates and the energy use you enter or choose.
Compare a supplier quote
Use the same consumption with a supplier's quoted rates. Include VAT where it applies.
Selected cap rates: £1,723.61 annualised for 2,500 kWh of electricity and 9,500 kWh of gas a year.
Understand your estimate
How it works
Estimate the cost of your gas and electricity at the selected price cap rates. Choose your region, payment method and meter type. You can use Ofgem's typical use or enter energy use from your own bill.
The cap sets limits on unit prices and daily charges. It does not cap your total bill. The estimate holds the chosen quarter's prices steady for a year, so you can compare them on the same basis.
If you use your own bill, copy the energy amounts in kWh rather than the money paid. Payments can include debt, credit or changes in account balance. Check that gas and electricity figures cover the same period before comparing the two fuel totals.
- Choose your supply
Match the region, payment method and meter to your bill.
- Add your energy use
Choose a typical usage level or enter yearly or average monthly kWh.
- Read your estimate
Compare the yearly total, monthly average and separate fuel costs.
A few good questions
Before youget started.
Understand this calculator, the figures to enter and the limits of your estimate.
Sources
- Energy price cap unit rates and standing chargesChecked on 9 October 2026
- Changes to energy price cap between 1 October and 31 December 2026Checked on 9 October 2026
- Changes to energy price cap between 1 July and 30 September 2026Checked on 9 October 2026
- Summary of changes to energy price cap 1 October to 31 December 2026 (letter)Checked on 9 October 2026
- Summary of changes to energy price cap 1 July to 30 September 2026 (under revised 2026 TDCV)Checked on 9 October 2026
- Review of typical domestic consumption values: decisionChecked on 9 October 2026
- Energy price cap and standing charges explainedChecked on 9 October 2026
- Last checked
- 13 October 2026
- Rates as of
- 1 October 2026
EnergySums
Energy price cap calculator by region
United Kingdom · How it works
- Guide updated
- 13 October 2026
- Rates as of
- 1 October 2026
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Guide updated | 13 October 2026 |
| Rates as of | 1 October 2026 |
How it works
Estimate the cost of your gas and electricity at the selected price cap rates. Choose your region, payment method and meter type. You can use Ofgem's typical use or enter energy use from your own bill.
The cap sets limits on unit prices and daily charges. It does not cap your total bill. The estimate holds the chosen quarter's prices steady for a year, so you can compare them on the same basis.
If you use your own bill, copy the energy amounts in kWh rather than the money paid. Payments can include debt, credit or changes in account balance. Check that gas and electricity figures cover the same period before comparing the two fuel totals.
- Choose your supply
Match the region, payment method and meter to your bill.
- Add your energy use
Choose a typical usage level or enter yearly or average monthly kWh.
- Read your estimate
Compare the yearly total, monthly average and separate fuel costs.
Formula
Each fuel cost has two parts. Multiply the yearly energy use by its unit price. Then add the daily standing charge for every day of the year. Divide the pence total by 100 to show pounds. The prices already include the recorded VAT treatment: no VAT on electricity and 5% VAT on gas.
For a dual-fuel bill, add the gas and electricity totals. A monthly figure is the yearly amount divided by 12. It is an average for comparison, rather than a forecast for each month's bill.
The quote comparison uses the same energy use for both offers. Enter the supplier's unit rates and daily charges, then read the annual difference. Include both parts of the price: a lower unit rate can come with a higher standing charge. Compare any extra fees separately.
- Energy cost
- Annual use (kWh) × unit price (p/kWh) ÷ 100 p/GBP= cost in pounds
- Standing charges
- 365 days × daily charge (p/day) ÷ 100 p/GBP= cost in pounds
- Annual total
- Electricity cost + gas cost, when used= yearly bill
- Monthly average
- Annual total/year ÷ 12 months/year= monthly cost
| Calculation | Formula with saved values | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Energy cost | Annual use (kWh) × unit price (p/kWh) ÷ 100 p/GBP | cost in pounds |
| Standing charges | 365 days × daily charge (p/day) ÷ 100 p/GBP | cost in pounds |
| Annual total | Electricity cost + gas cost, when used | yearly bill |
| Monthly average | Annual total/year ÷ 12 months/year | monthly cost |
- Average monthly energy use is multiplied by 12 first. Use the same time basis for both fuels.
- Standing charges apply on connected days even when no energy is used.
- The calculation keeps full precision until display. Small differences can appear when you add rounded amounts yourself.
Worked example
Ofgem medium typical usage at Great Britain average Direct Debit rates for 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026.
- Electricity use
- 2,500 kWh/year
- Gas use
- 9,500 kWh/year
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 2,500 kWh/year |
| Gas use | 9,500 kWh/year |
- Electricity / year
- (2,500 kWh × 26.32 p/kWh + 365 days × 54.83 p/day) ÷ 100 p/GBP= £858.13
- Gas / year
- (9,500 kWh × 7.97 p/kWh + 365 days × 29.68 p/day) ÷ 100 p/GBP= £865.48
- Yearly total
- £858.13 + £865.48= £1,723.61
- Monthly average
- £1,723.61/year ÷ 12 months/year= £143.63
| Calculation | Formula with saved values | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity / year | (2,500 kWh × 26.32 p/kWh + 365 days × 54.83 p/day) ÷ 100 p/GBP | £858.13 |
| Gas / year | (9,500 kWh × 7.97 p/kWh + 365 days × 29.68 p/day) ÷ 100 p/GBP | £865.48 |
| Yearly total | £858.13 + £865.48 | £1,723.61 |
| Monthly average | £1,723.61/year ÷ 12 months/year | £143.63 |
- Unit prices are 26.32p/kWh for electricity and 7.97p/kWh for gas. Daily charges are 54.83p and 29.68p respectively.
- Ofgem publishes the typical bill as £1,723; the calculation uses the published unit rates. Money is rounded for display.
Assumptions and limits
- A yearly estimate uses one quarter's prices for the whole year. Later price changes, weather and changes in your energy use can change the actual bill.
- The cap applies to eligible household standard variable tariffs. Fixed tariffs, business energy, heat networks and heating oil are outside this comparison.
- For Economy 7, the cap estimate uses Ofgem's blended rate. Use actual day and night quote prices for a personal tariff comparison.
- Typical use is a comparison input, rather than a prediction for your home. Bill records give a more personal starting point.
- Discounts, debt repayments and warm home support are excluded. Check those separately when comparing what you would actually pay.
- Review the inputs when the household routine changes. More people, different equipment or a different heating schedule can change energy use even when prices stay the same.
Price cap rules in Great Britain
The stored rates apply from 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026. For this period the government has removed VAT from electricity, and gas still includes 5% VAT. The source links show where the figures came from and when they were checked.
- Ofgem covers England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland is outside this cap. Choose the region that serves the property, rather than a nearby area with a lower price.
- Prices can differ by payment method and meter type. Check both against your bill before comparing the estimate with a supplier quote.
When to ask a professional
- An energy adviser can help compare tariffs, payment methods and meter choices. Have a recent bill and any new quote ready so both comparisons use the same energy use.
- If you are struggling to pay, contact your supplier to discuss the bill and available support. This estimate does not assess your account or decide what support you can receive.
Questions and answers
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How is the energy price cap calculated? | Ofgem sets a maximum unit rate and daily standing charge for gas and electricity, based on the costs of supplying energy. It sets different limits for each region, payment method and meter type, and reviews them every three months. Your bill is your use multiplied by the unit rate, plus the standing charge for each day. |
| What is my energy price cap? | It depends on where you live, how you pay and your meter. Choose your region and payment method in the calculator above to see your capped rates applied to your own use. For a typical home paying by Direct Debit, the cap for 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026 works out at about £1,723 a year. |
| What is the current energy price cap per unit in the UK? | For 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026, the Great Britain average for Direct Debit is 26.32p per kWh for electricity with a standing charge of 54.83p a day, and 7.97p per kWh for gas with a standing charge of 29.68p a day. Your region's rates may be higher or lower. |
| How do I work out my standing charge? | Multiply the daily standing charge by the number of days. At the Great Britain average Direct Debit electricity standing charge of 54.83p a day, a year costs 365 x 54.83p = £200.13. You pay it even when you use no energy. |
| Should I fix my energy or stay on the price cap? | We cannot tell you which is right for you. To compare, enter your use above, then work out a fixed tariff's cost with its own unit rates and standing charges, and add any exit fees. The cap can go up or down every three months, while a fixed tariff stays the same for its term. |
Sources
| Source | Checked | Reference URL |
|---|---|---|
| Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges | 9 October 2026 | https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-households/get-energy-price-cap-standing-charges-and-unit-rates-region |
| Changes to energy price cap between 1 October and 31 December 2026 | 9 October 2026 | https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/news/changes-energy-price-cap-between-1-october-and-31-december-2026 |
| Changes to energy price cap between 1 July and 30 September 2026 | 9 October 2026 | https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/news/changes-energy-price-cap-between-1-july-and-30-september-2026 |
| Summary of changes to energy price cap 1 October to 31 December 2026 (letter) | 9 October 2026 | https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2026-08/Summary-of-changes-to-energy-price-cap-1-October-to-31-December-2026.pdf |
| Summary of changes to energy price cap 1 July to 30 September 2026 (under revised 2026 TDCV) | 9 October 2026 | https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2026-06/Summary-of-changes-to-energy-price-cap-1-July-to-30-September-2026-revised-TDCV.pdf |
| Review of typical domestic consumption values: decision | 9 October 2026 | https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2026-05/Review%20of%20typical%20domestic%20consumption%20values%20decision.pdf |
| Energy price cap and standing charges explained | 9 October 2026 | https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/your-energy-supply/your-energy-bill/energy-price-cap-and-standing-charges-explained |