Average electricity bill UK 2026:
what is normal?
Average electricity costs by household size, based on the current Ofgem price cap. Plus what makes your bill higher than average and how to pay less.
A normal electricity bill for a typical UK household in 2026 is around £875 per year or £73 per month, based on typical consumption of 2,700 kWh at the Ofgem Q2 2026 rate of 24.67p per kWh. Smaller households pay significantly less. Households without gas pay more, as they rely on electricity for heating too.
Average electricity bills by household size
| Household size | Typical usage (kWh/yr) | Annual bill | Monthly bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed flat / 1 person | 1,800 kWh | ~£652 | ~£54 |
| 2 bed home / 2 people | 2,700 kWh | ~£875 | ~£73 |
| 3 bed home / 3 to 4 people | 3,400 kWh | ~£1,049 | ~£87 |
| 4 bed home / 5+ people | 4,300+ kWh | ~£1,270+ | ~£106+ |
| Electric-only household (no gas) | 4,200 to 6,000 kWh | £1,240 to £1,690 | £103 to £141 |
Based on Ofgem Q2 2026 price cap (1 April to 30 June 2026): 24.67p/kWh unit rate, 57.21p/day standing charge. England, Scotland and Wales average for direct debit customers, including 5% VAT. Source: Ofgem. Last updated May 2026. Figures reviewed each Ofgem price cap quarter.
Electricity unit rate and standing charge Q2 2026
| Rate type | Q1 2026 (Jan to Mar) | Q2 2026 (Apr to Jun) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit rate (per kWh) | 27.69p | 24.67p | Down 3.02p |
| Standing charge (per day) | 54.75p | 57.21p | Up 2.46p |
| Typical annual bill (electricity only) | ~£947 | ~£875 | Down ~£72 |
Source: Ofgem price cap rates, Q1 and Q2 2026. Direct debit customers, England, Scotland and Wales average, including 5% VAT. Last updated May 2026.
Note that while the unit rate fell in Q2 2026, the standing charge increased slightly. This is partly because Warm Home Discount funding shifted from standing charges to the unit rate from April 2026. For lower-consumption households, a higher standing charge can offset some of the unit rate saving.
Why is my electricity bill higher than average?
The most common reason for an above-average electricity bill is heating. Households without gas use electricity for heating and hot water, either through storage heaters, electric boilers, or heat pumps. This can easily double or triple electricity consumption compared to a gas-heated home of the same size. If you have electric heating, your bill will be significantly higher than the figures in the table above.
Working from home also increases electricity use noticeably, as does electric vehicle charging. A typical EV adds around 2,000 to 3,500 kWh per year depending on how much you drive and whether you charge at home. Old appliances, poor insulation, and leaving devices on standby all contribute too.
If your bill is higher than expected and none of those factors apply, the first thing to check is whether you are being billed on actual readings. Estimated readings that are too high will inflate your bill. The second thing to check is your tariff. See our energy tariff comparison to see if a cheaper deal is available.
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Questions people ask
A normal electricity bill for a medium-sized UK household is around £875 per year or £73 per month, based on typical consumption of 2,700 kWh at the Q2 2026 rate of 24.67p per kWh. A 1-bedroom flat might pay around £54 per month, while a large family home could pay £87 to £106 per month.
The average electricity bill for a typical UK household in 2026 is around £875 per year, based on the Ofgem Q2 2026 price cap. This uses typical consumption of 2,700 kWh at 24.67p per kWh plus a daily standing charge of 57.21p.
The average electricity bill for a 2-person household is around £730 to £875 per year, or roughly £61 to £73 per month, depending on usage and property type. Households without gas pay more as they use electricity for heating and hot water too.
The most common reasons are electric heating or hot water rather than gas, poor home insulation, old appliances, being on an expensive tariff, and estimated rather than actual meter readings. EV charging and working from home also increase electricity use significantly.
The average electricity unit rate under the Ofgem Q2 2026 price cap is 24.67p per kWh for direct debit customers. The daily standing charge is 57.21p. These are England, Scotland and Wales averages including 5% VAT. Rates vary by region and payment method.
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