Energy · Ofgem price cap
Energy price cap: today's rates and your bill
From 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026, the Ofgem price cap puts a typical home paying by Direct Debit at £1,723 a year, about £144 a month, up from £1,663. Electricity is capped at 26.32p per kWh and gas at 7.97p per kWh, plus a daily standing charge for each.
Typical bill now
£1,723 a year
Electricity £858 · Gas £865 · 1 Oct 2026 to 31 Dec 2026
Ofgem announces each new cap a few weeks before it starts. We add it here the day it is published.
Work out your bill on today's cap
Put in what you use a year and see your bill on the cap, split into standing charges and units. Add your own tariff's rates to see if you pay more.
At the price cap · 1 Oct 2026 to 31 Dec 2026
£1,723 a year
£144 a month
- Electricity units
- £658
- Electricity standing
- £200
- Gas units
- £757
- Gas standing
- £108
GB average rates by Direct Debit. Rates in your region differ a little; your supplier's bill shows yours.
The rates
Price cap unit rates and standing charges
The cap sets the most a supplier can charge per unit of energy and per day on a standard variable tariff. It is not a cap on your total bill.
| Period | Electricity unit | Electricity standing | Gas unit | Gas standing | Typical year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct 2026 to 31 Dec 2026Now | 26.32p per kWh | 54.83p a day | 7.97p per kWh | 29.68p a day | £1,723 |
| 1 Jul 2026 to 30 Sept 2026 | 26.11p per kWh | 57.19p a day | 7.33p per kWh | 29.04p a day | £1,663 |
Source: Ofgem, GB average by Direct Debit, checked 25 Oct 2026. Typical year at 2,500 kWh electricity and 9,500 kWh gas.
How to save
Pay less than the cap
The cap is a ceiling, not a bargain. A fixed tariff priced below the cap locks in a lower rate for a year or two, so check what suppliers offer before the cap rises.
Pay by Direct Debit: it is the cheapest way to pay on the cap. Standard credit, paying when the bill arrives, costs more.
Send meter readings or get a smart meter, so you pay for what you use rather than an estimate.
Straight answers
Energy questions
- What is the energy price cap?
- It is the most a supplier can charge for each unit of gas and electricity, and for the daily standing charge, on a standard variable tariff. Ofgem sets it every three months.
- Does the price cap limit my total bill?
- No. It limits the rates, not the total. Use more energy and you pay more; use less and you pay less than the typical figure.
- What is a standing charge?
- A fixed daily charge you pay for each fuel, even on days you use no energy. It covers the cost of keeping your home connected to the network.
- How often does the price cap change?
- Every three months: on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July and 1 October. Ofgem announces each new level a few weeks before it starts.