Energy price cap tracker

Typical annual bill since 2019

Ofgem’s typical dual-fuel bill for each cap period, as announced at the time.

Unit rates and standing charges since 2023

Unit rates are the fairest comparison over time. Since October 2026 the electricity figures exclude VAT.

Every price cap period

* Energy Price Guarantee in force: typical households paid £2,500 a year. A dash means Ofgem did not publish a GB average for that figure; before 2023 it announced unit rates rounded to the penny and gave standing charges only by region.

How the price cap works

Ofgem sets the maximum unit rates and standing charges that suppliers can charge households on standard variable (default) tariffs in England, Scotland and Wales. It reviews the cap every three months, based mainly on wholesale energy costs plus network, policy and operating costs. It is not a limit on the total bill: you pay for what you use. Northern Ireland has a separate market without this cap. More detail in our energy price cap explainer and standing charge entry.

For this winter’s changes and the latest forecasts for January, see energy bills this winter. To turn the rates into the cost of a particular appliance, use the electricity cost calculator.

Frequently asked questions

What is the energy price cap now?

From 1 October to 31 December 2026, the cap limits electricity to 26.32p per kWh with a 54.83p daily standing charge, and gas to 7.97p per kWh with a 29.68p standing charge (GB averages, Direct Debit). Ofgem puts a typical household's annual bill at £1,723.

When will the next price cap be announced?

Ofgem says it will announce the cap for January to March 2027 by 25 November 2026. Caps change every three months: on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July and 1 October.

Is the price cap a cap on my bill?

No. It caps the unit rate and the daily standing charge on standard variable (default) tariffs. The more energy you use, the more you pay. Fixed tariffs are not covered by the cap.

Why can’t I compare the typical bill across all years?

Ofgem has changed its “typical” household use several times (most recently to 2,500 kWh of electricity and 9,500 kWh of gas from July 2026), and VAT came off electricity from 1 October 2026. We show each period’s figure as Ofgem announced it, with the basis alongside. Unit rates are the better like-for-like measure.

What was the Energy Price Guarantee?

A government scheme that limited what typical households paid to £2,500 a year from October 2022 to June 2023, when the Ofgem cap was higher. The cap figures for those quarters are shown for reference; households paid less.

Sources

All figures from Ofgem announcements and the GOV.UK Energy Price Guarantee pages, checked 9 October 2026. Where Ofgem later restated a typical bill on a new consumption basis, we keep the figure announced for that period. General information, not financial advice.