EPC rating running costs
How much energy homes in each EPC band actually use, measured at the meter, and what that costs a month at today’s price cap.
Energy use and cost by EPC band
England and Wales, median use per home in 2024, priced at the Ofgem cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026 (26.32p and 7.97p per kWh plus standing charges):
| Band | Gas kWh | Electricity kWh | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 8,354 | 2,611 | £1,661 | £138 |
| B | 7,168 | 2,297 | £1,484 | £124 |
| C | 8,397 | 2,332 | £1,591 | £133 |
| D | 10,503 | 2,615 | £1,834 | £153 |
| E | 12,128 | 3,022 | £2,070 | £173 |
| F | 12,811 | 3,488 | £2,248 | £187 |
| G | 11,118 | 3,549 | £2,129 | £177 |
Two things stand out. Moving from D to C is linked with about 2,106 kWh less gas a year in the median home. But the pattern is not smooth: band B homes use less gas than band A, and G homes use less gas than F. Bands describe the building, not the household; bigger homes, more occupants and warmer thermostats push use up within every band.
Where the numbers come from
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero matches meter readings to homes’ EPC records in its National Energy Efficiency Data-Framework (NEED). We use the 2026 edition tables for 2024: Table 27 (gas) and Table 28 (electricity) for England and Wales, and Tables 15 and 16 for Scotland. Figures are medians: half of homes use more, half less. In England and Wales, half of band D homes used between 7,079 and 14,713 kWh of gas.
- Gas figures cover homes with a gas meter only, and are weather-corrected.
- Electricity covers all metered homes, including electrically heated ones, which raises the figures for bands E to G.
- Gas and electricity medians come from different sets of homes, so adding them gives an approximate dual-fuel bill.
- About a third of homes have no EPC, and certificates last 10 years, so some ratings are out of date.
See the EPC glossary entry for how ratings and the rental rules work, and the price cap for the rates. Grants that can improve a rating include the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an EPC D house cost to heat a month?
In England and Wales, the median home rated D used 10,503 kWh of gas and 2,615 kWh of electricity a year (DESNZ, 2024). At the 1 October to 31 December 2026 price cap, with standing charges, that works out to about £153 a month, or £1,834 a year, by our calculation.
How much does an EPC C house cost to run?
The median band C home used 8,397 kWh of gas and 2,332 kWh of electricity, about £133 a month at today’s price cap, by our calculation.
Does a better EPC rating always mean lower bills?
Usually, but not in a straight line. In the government’s meter data, band B homes use less gas than band A and band G homes use less gas than band F. Size, who lives there and how they heat it matter as much as the rating. Electricity use rises steadily from B to G, partly because many F and G homes are heated by electricity.
Doesn’t my EPC certificate already show running costs?
Yes. Current certificates show an estimated yearly cost for heating, lighting and hot water for an average household in that property, at fuel prices from the date of the assessment. This page uses what homes in each band actually used, measured at the meter, priced at today’s rates.
Where can I find my EPC rating?
Search for your address on the government’s “Find an energy certificate” service (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or the Scottish EPC register. Certificates are valid for 10 years.
General information, not financial advice. Sources: DESNZ NEED consumption data tables 2026, Ofgem price cap.