What is the average gas and electric bill in the UK right now? Find out how much others are paying monthly for their energy and discover ways to reduce your own bills.
What is the average monthly electricity bill in the UK?
The average cost of monthly electric bills in the UK is £80.40.
The average UK electric bill is based on Ofgem’s own definition of a ‘typical’ UK household, which contains 2-3 people. According to Ofgem’s own statistics, this typical household consumes 2,700 kWh of electricity per year, or 225 kWh per month.
The figures assume that the household also uses gas. If the household only uses electricity, and uses it to heat as well as power their home, then the figure would be much higher.
Ofgem sets a limit on the price of electricity using its energy price cap, which is adjusted every 3 months. The cap applies to all electricity suppliers, and covers their default standard variable tariffs. It covers both the daily standing charge and the cost for each unit (kWh) of electricity you consume. From 1 January to 31 March 2024, the standing charge is capped at 53.35p per day, while each unit is capped at 28.62p per kWh.This means the average electricity bill for a 2-person household in the UK comes to £80.40. This covers:
- Standing charge: 53.35p x 30 days usage = £16.00
- Consumption: 28.52p x 225 kWh electricity = £64.40
Every household’s usage is different, so don’t be surprised if your bills are higher or lower than this.
Updated electricity energy price cap from 1 April
During the April to July price cap period, prices should fall to 60.10p per day (daily standing charge) and 24.50p per kWh.
What is the average monthly gas bill in the UK?
The average monthly bill for UK gas users is currently £80.12.
This is again based on Ofgem’s definition of a ‘typical’ British household, a house with 2-3 bedrooms containing an average of 2.4 people. This household is estimated to consume 11,500 kWh of gas each year, or 960 kWh of gas per month.
Ofgem caps the price of gas just as it does with electricity. This means no gas supplier can charge more than the cap on its standard variable tariffs. Ofgem adjusts the cap every 3 months. It applies to the daily standing charge and each kWh of gas consumed. The current cap runs from 1 January to 31 March 2024.
Right now, the cap is set at 29.60p per day for the standing charge, and 7.42p/kWh for each unit of gas consumed. This means the monthly average gas bill in the UK is currently £80.12. This is made up of an £8.88 standing charge (covering 30 days) and £71.24, which covers the cost of 960 kWh of gas.
Updated gas energy price cap from 1 April
During the April to July price cap period, gas prices will fall and should be capped at 31.43p per day for the standing charge and 6.04p per kWh of gas consumed.
What is the average monthly energy bill by house size and usage?
Ofgem provides figures for 3 types of usage based on the size of the household:
| Energy usage | House size | Household size | Monthly (Annual) electricity use (kWh) | Monthly (annual) gas use (kWh) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Low
|
Flat/1-bed house
|
1-2 people
|
150 (1,800)
|
625 (7,500)
|
|
Medium
|
2-3 bed house
|
2-3 people
|
225 (2,700)
|
960 (11,500)
|
|
High
|
4+ bed house
|
4-5 people
|
342 (4,100)
|
1,415 (17,000)
|
Based on the current energy cap, which runs from 1 January to 31 March 2024, the average energy bills for each type of household are:
| House size | Average monthly electricity bill | Average monthly gas bill |
|---|---|---|
|
Flat/1-bed house
|
£58.93
|
£55.26
|
|
2-3 bed house
|
£80.40
|
£80.12
|
|
4+ bed house
|
£113.89
|
£113.88
|
What affects the cost of the average gas and electricity bill?
The average UK energy bill is affected by changes to the energy price cap. If the price cap increases, then average costs will rise. When it drops, the average monthly UK energy bill falls too.
It’s worth noting that the energy price cap only applies to suppliers’ standard variable tariffs. Suppliers can charge less than the cap, which means electric and gas bills are lower. The cost can also change if you move to a different tariff. For example, fixed-rate tariffs are set for the duration of the contract – typically 12 months – and aren’t subject to the price cap. They may be higher or lower depending on when they were set.
Each monthly bill also varies. They’re lower in the summer when the heating is switched off and daylight hours are longer. When the nights draw in and temperatures fall, monthly bills increase. The average monthly cost is therefore worked out using a household’s typical usage over a year, which is divided by 12 to give you your average monthly bill.
How is my energy bill calculated?
Your own gas and electricity bills are calculated using the following criteria:
- The tariff you're on: This determines the price you pay for your daily standing charges and the cost of each unit of energy you use.
- How much energy you consume: The more energy you use, the higher your bill.
- Where you live: Some areas of the UK pay more for their energy than others. This is because the cost of delivering energy to your home varies by region.
- How you pay your bill: Customers paying monthly by Direct Debit pay less than those using other payment methods.
How can you reduce your gas and electric bills?
You can reduce your energy bills by:
- Finding a cheaper tariff: Compare energy with Confused to see if you can pay less for your energy from a different supplier.
- Installing solar panels: Once you’ve paid the upfront cost, you can enjoy lower electricity bills by generating some or most of the electricity you use at home. Pair it with storage batteries to enjoy even bigger savings over time. You’re also be paid for any electricity you don’t use.
- Reducing your energy consumption: This is the most effective way to save money. Look to switch to more energy-efficient appliances, switch off devices when not in use, and see what you can do around the home to save energy.
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