Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges

Energy price cap from 1 October to 31 December 2026

From 1 October to 31 December 2026, the price cap will be £1,723 per year. This has gone up by 4% compared to the last price cap period.

This figure is based on the average energy unit rate and standing charge for people who pay by Direct Debit in England, Scotland and Wales.

Average electricity and gas unit prices and standing charges by Direct Debit

Figures are rounded to two decimal places and include 5% VAT on gas. There is no VAT on electricity from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027.

Costs cannot be compared directly to previous periods because of this change.
 

Find out what the price cap is and how it is calculated.

Single rate and multi-rate electricity tariffs

If you pay the same unit rate for your electricity throughout the whole day, this is called a single rate tariff.

For multi-rate tariffs like Economy 7 you will pay one unit rate during peak hours and a different unit rate during off-peak hours. Together, they cannot be more than the price cap.

Why standing charges are different based on where you live

The standing charge will be different depending on where you live. It is calculated based on:

• how many people live in your region
• how much energy is used in your region on average
• the amount of energy the supplier needs to buy
• the cost of building and improving the energy network

Find unit rates and standing charges in your energy region

Your unit rate and daily standing charge will be different based on where you live and if you pay your bills by:

• standard credit (paying when you get your bill)
• Direct Debit (payment automatically taken from your account on a specific date)
• prepayment meter (buying credit for your meter to pay for the energy you use)

Get data from the tables on this page

Download data from the table in different formats by selecting the menu next to each table.

You can search by region in every table.

Standing charges and unit rates by Direct Debit, 1 October to 31 December 2026

People who pay by Direct Debit for the energy they use. Prices include VAT on gas only and are rounded to two decimal places.

Standing charges and unit rates paid by standard credit, 1 July to 30 September 2026

People who pay when they get their bill for the energy they have already used. Prices include VAT on gas only and are rounded to two decimal places.

Standing charges and unit rates by prepayment meter, 1 October to 31 December 2026

People with a prepayment meter installed in their household and who pay for energy they use before they use it. Prices include VAT on gas only and are rounded to two decimal places.