Energy price cap calculator
Enter how much electricity and gas you use in a year to see what it costs at the Ofgem price cap rates for 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026, split between unit charges and standing charges, and how it compares with the £1,723 typical bill.
Breakdown at the cap rates
| Charge | Rate | Yearly cost |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity units | 26.32p per kWh | £658 |
| Electricity standing charge | 54.83p per day | £200 |
| Gas units | 7.97p per kWh | £757 |
| Gas standing charge | 29.68p per day | £108 |
| Total | £1,724 |
How the calculation works
The price cap limits what a supplier can charge per unit of energy and per day of connection for customers on a standard variable tariff. It does not cap the bill itself. This calculator multiplies your annual kWh by the average direct debit unit rate for each fuel, adds a year of each standing charge, and totals the result. The headline figure Ofgem publishes, £1,723 for this quarter, is simply the same sum at typical consumption of 2,500 kWh of electricity and 9,500 kWh of gas.
The rates are averages across the regions of Great Britain. Each region has its own unit rate and standing charge, so a supplier's quote for your postcode will differ by a few pounds a year from the figure here. Households paying by standard credit are charged more, with a typical bill of £1,861, and prepayment customers slightly less, at £1,678. The electricity figures carry no VAT, which the government has reduced from 5% to zero on electricity bills from 1 October 2026. The gas figures are as published by Ofgem.
| Unit cost | kWh used × average unit rate for the fuel |
| Standing charge | 365 days × daily charge for each fuel connected |
| Typical bill | the same sum at 2,500 kWh electricity and 9,500 kWh gas |
| Period | 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026; the next cap applies from 1 January 2027 |
Worked example
A dual fuel home using Ofgem's typical amounts pays £658 for electricity units and £200 in electricity standing charges, plus £757 for gas units and £108 in gas standing charges: £1,724 a year, or £144 a month. Standing charges alone are £308, 18% of the total. A larger house using 4,000 kWh of electricity and 14,000 kWh of gas pays about £2,477. An all-electric flat using 4,000 kWh with no gas supply pays about £1,253, because it avoids the gas standing charge but pays the higher electricity unit rate for its heating.
Reading the result honestly
- The cap changes every three months. These figures apply from 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026. A yearly figure assumes the rates hold for twelve months, which they will not; treat it as an annualised rate rather than a forecast.
- Regional rates differ. Standing charges in particular vary by several pence a day between regions.
- Fixed tariffs sit outside the cap. A fixed deal can be cheaper or dearer than the cap; comparing its unit rates and standing charges with the figures above is the right way to judge it.
- Usage is the main lever. The cap sets the price per unit; the bill depends on how many units a home uses, which is why the typical figure can be a long way from your own.
Common questions
What is the energy price cap from October 2026?
From 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026 the cap is £1,723 a year for a household with typical use paying by direct debit, 4% higher than the previous quarter. It is a cap on the unit rates and standing charges, not on the bill: use more energy and you pay more.
What are the unit rates under the cap?
On average across Great Britain for direct debit customers: electricity 26.32p per kWh with a 54.83p daily standing charge, and gas 7.97p per kWh with a 29.68p daily standing charge. Rates differ by region, so your supplier's figures will be close to these but not identical.
Why is my bill higher than £1,723?
Because the headline figure assumes typical consumption of 2,500 kWh of electricity and 9,500 kWh of gas a year. A larger or older home, electric heating or a heat pump can use far more. At 4,000 kWh of electricity and 14,000 kWh of gas the same rates give about £2,477 a year.
What is a standing charge?
A fixed daily amount for being connected, paid whatever you use. Under this cap the two standing charges add up to about £308 a year for a dual fuel home, which is 18% of the typical bill. It is the reason a low-use household pays proportionately more.
Has VAT on energy changed?
The electricity figures carry no VAT, which the government has reduced from 5% to zero on electricity bills from 1 October 2026. The gas figures are as published by Ofgem.
When does the cap change next?
On 1 January 2027. Ofgem sets the cap every quarter and announces each level about five weeks in advance. The figures on this page apply only to the 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026 period.