UK energy costs
Real, sourced data on typical bills and seasonal cost patterns — compiled August 2026.
Typical annual dual-fuel bill by usage level
| Usage level | Annual bill |
|---|---|
| Low usage | £1,062 |
| Medium usage | £1,490 |
| High usage | £2,074 |
Source: Ofgem Typical Domestic Consumption Values & Q3 2026 price cap (electricity + gas, Direct Debit)
Monthly cost pattern (illustrative)
| Month | Relative index (100 = average) |
|---|---|
| J | 135 |
| F | 128 |
| M | 112 |
| A | 95 |
| M | 82 |
| J | 72 |
| J | 68 |
| A | 70 |
| S | 80 |
| O | 100 |
| N | 120 |
| D | 140 |
Ofgem doesn’t publish an official month-by-month bill breakdown. Industry estimates suggest winter bills run roughly 30–50% higher than summer, driven by heating and lighting demand — but this is a comparison-site estimate, not an official Ofgem figure.
Bars show a relative index (100 = year-round average month) illustrating the pattern described above — no regulator publishes an exact month-by-month bill, so treat this as a shape, not a precise figure.
Which usage band matches my household?
| Household | Usage band | Typical profile |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 people | Low | 1–2 bed flat, occasional heating, no dishwasher/dryer |
| 3–4 people | Medium | 3-bed house, regular heating and appliance use |
| 5+ people | High | 4-bed+ house, constant occupancy, heavy appliance use |
Ofgem publishes bands by usage, not household size directly — this mapping is Energy UK’s own illustrative guide to which band a household typically falls into, not an official Ofgem table. Source: Energy UK, “Typical Domestic Consumption Values” explainer.
How green is the grid right now?
Live data — Great Britain’s electricity grid updates its generation mix every 30 minutes.
Live source: National Grid ESO Carbon Intensity API (Great Britain only — England, Scotland & Wales).
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