UK Energy Price Cap Rates by Region
Your calculator result is only as good as the rates you enter. Use this page to avoid mixing the headline price cap with your actual unit rate, standing charge, region and payment method.
Use together
Dated national average context
For 1 July–30 September 2026, the historical Great Britain average direct-debit rates were 26.11p/kWh electricity plus 57.19p/day, and 7.33p/kWh gas plus 29.04p/day. Ofgem’s revised typical-use headline was £1,663; the ~£1,862 annual examples below use older 2,700/11,500 kWh assumptions and are not its headline. See the current period before checking a bill.
Use the right figure
| You are checking | Use this input | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Direct debit forecast | Annual cost, current balance and review period | Using only the headline £1,862 figure for every household. |
| kWh cost | Unit rate in p/kWh from your bill or regional table | Using the standing charge as if it were a unit rate. |
| Standing charge | Daily pence charge multiplied by days billed | Ignoring standing charge on low-usage bills. |
| Bill from readings | Opening/closing readings, unit rate and days billed | Forgetting VAT or using the wrong cap period. |
Price cap rates by region, 1 July to 30 September 2026
Dated 1 July–30 September 2026 direct-debit rates. The annual examples below apply 2,700 kWh electricity and 11,500 kWh gas to each set of rates. Those were the older consumption assumptions; the resulting ~£1,862 national calculation is not Ofgem’s revised £1,663 typical-use headline. Compare rates and periods, not these example totals, with a current bill.
| Region | Electricity p/kWh | Elec standing p/day | Gas p/kWh | Gas standing p/day | Illustrative year older usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Midlands cheapest | 25.10p | 53.60p | 7.19p | 28.78p | £1,805 |
| North West | 26.13p | 47.61p | 7.24p | 29.17p | £1,818 |
| West Midlands | 25.33p | 59.71p | 7.27p | 29.06p | £1,844 |
| London | 26.35p | 44.78p | 7.50p | 29.52p | £1,845 |
| Eastern | 26.38p | 53.94p | 7.26p | 28.70p | £1,849 |
| Northern (North East) | 25.22p | 64.29p | 7.28p | 29.15p | £1,859 |
| Yorkshire | 25.31p | 64.38p | 7.27p | 29.12p | £1,861 |
| Northern Scotland | 26.42p | 57.55p | 7.23p | 29.22p | £1,862 |
| Southern | 26.42p | 49.70p | 7.53p | 28.53p | £1,865 |
| Southern Scotland | 25.85p | 64.17p | 7.23p | 29.24p | £1,870 |
| South East | 26.67p | 54.45p | 7.39p | 28.63p | £1,873 |
| South Wales | 26.33p | 57.84p | 7.42p | 29.30p | £1,882 |
| South West | 26.39p | 57.89p | 7.48p | 28.68p | £1,889 |
| Merseyside, North Wales & Cheshire dearest | 27.66p | 70.76p | 7.28p | 29.42p | £1,950 |
| GB average average rates, old-use example | 26.11p | 57.19p | 7.33p | 29.04p | £1,862 |
Annual examples: 2,700 kWh electricity plus 11,500 kWh gas over 365 days at the July–September 2026 regional rates. These are dated illustrations under the older usage assumptions, not Ofgem’s revised benchmark. Rates checked 20 August 2026; use Ofgem’s latest regional tables for a current bill.
The spread is £144 a year. Same usage, same cap, different postcode. East Midlands is the cheapest region for a typical dual-fuel household and Merseyside, North Wales and Cheshire the most expensive — and the gap is almost entirely in the electricity standing charge, which runs from 44.78p a day in London to 70.76p in Merseyside, North Wales and Cheshire. That is £95 a year of difference before anyone switches a light on.
Finding your region — it is not your postcode
Energy regions are electricity distribution areas, and they do not follow county or postal boundaries. The reliable way to find yours is the first two digits of your MPAN.
Look at your electricity bill for a grid of numbers, usually in a box marked with an S. The bottom row starts with two digits — that is your distribution ID.
| MPAN starts | Region | MPAN starts | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Eastern | 18 | Southern Scotland |
| 11 | East Midlands | 19 | South East |
| 12 | London | 20 | Southern |
| 13 | Merseyside, North Wales & Cheshire | 21 | South Wales |
| 14 | West Midlands | 22 | South West |
| 15 | Northern (North East) | 23 | Yorkshire |
| 16 | North West | — | — |
| 17 | Northern Scotland | — | — |
Two things this explains. If you live in Chester and wondered why your standing charge looks nothing like a friend's in Manchester — different distribution regions, and Merseyside, North Wales and Cheshire has the highest electricity standing charge in the country. And if a comparison site quoted you a figure that did not match your bill, check whether it assumed the national average rather than your region.
Northern Ireland has a separate energy market with its own regulator and is not covered by the Ofgem price cap.
What the cap does, in one table
Half the arguments about energy bills come from misunderstanding this, so it is worth being blunt.
| The cap does | The cap does not |
|---|---|
| Limit the unit rate (p/kWh) on a default or standard variable tariff | Limit your total bill |
| Limit the standing charge (p/day) | Apply to fixed-term tariffs you chose |
| Vary by region, payment method and meter type | Guarantee everyone pays the same |
| Change every three months | Stay still long enough to memorise |
| Apply in England, Scotland and Wales | Apply in Northern Ireland |
The headline is not a maximum bill. The £1,862.66 calculation uses 2,700 kWh electricity and 11,500 kWh gas at July–September 2026 average rates. It is an older-consumption illustration, while Ofgem’s revised typical-use headline for that period is £1,663. Check your own kWh and rates.
Check the dated period
The July–September 2026 examples are historical. The current cap guide shows the latest verified period in our rate file.
Checking your own bill line by line
Five minutes with the bill and a calculator settles most “this looks wrong” questions, and it gives you something concrete to quote if it turns out it is wrong.
Units used
Closing reading minus opening reading. For gas in m³ the bill converts to kWh for you — use the kWh figure.
Unit cost
Units × unit rate in pence, ÷ 100. Use the rate printed on the bill, not a headline figure.
Standing charge
Days in the billing period × p/day, ÷ 100. Use the billed day count; do not double-count a boundary shared by consecutive periods.
A worked check
| Line | Working | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Opening reading, 1 July | 38,412 | |
| Closing reading, 1 October | 39,048 | |
| Units used | 39,048 − 38,412 | 636 kWh |
| Unit cost | 636 × 26.11p ÷ 100 | £166.06 |
| Days billed | 1 July to 1 October (end excluded) | 92 days |
| Standing charge | 92 × 57.19p ÷ 100 | £52.61 |
| Total before VAT adjustments | £218.67 |
Two things that make your figure differ legitimately. First, VAT: the July–September 2026 domestic rates included 5% VAT; from October 2026 Great Britain electricity is zero-rated while gas remains at 5% and the cap rates quoted by Ofgem already include it, but some bills show rates excluding VAT and add it at the end — check which yours does before concluding it is wrong. Second, a rate change mid-period: if the cap changed during your billing window the bill will show two rate lines, and the days must split correctly between them. That split is worth checking; it is a recurring source of small errors.
If your arithmetic and theirs differ by more than a pound or two, ask for the calculation in writing. Use the bill from meter reading calculator to do this without the mental arithmetic.
Frequently asked questions
Is the price cap a cap on my total bill?
No. It caps unit rates and standing charges for default tariffs, not the total amount you can pay. Higher usage means a higher bill.
Why is my standing charge different from the average?
Standing charges vary by region, payment method and meter type.
Should I use national average or my bill rate?
Use the rate on your bill or the official regional table whenever possible.
What were the July–September 2026 average rates?
Great Britain average direct-debit rates were 26.11p/kWh plus 57.19p/day for electricity and 7.33p/kWh plus 29.04p/day for gas, including applicable VAT. These are dated national averages; use Ofgem’s current regional table for today’s rates.
How do I find which energy region I am in?
Use the first two digits of your MPAN, printed on your electricity bill in a box marked with an S. The bottom row of that grid starts with your distribution ID: 12 is London, 16 is North West, 23 is Yorkshire, and so on. It is not determined by your postcode or county.
Why is my standing charge higher than my friend's?
The July–September 2026 example table shows electricity standing charges from 44.78p a day in London to 70.76p in Merseyside, North Wales and Cheshire. Check Ofgem’s latest regional table for your current period, meter and payment method.
Is the price cap a cap on my bill?
No. It caps default-tariff unit rates and standing charges, not your total. The £1,862 historical calculation uses older consumption assumptions; Ofgem’s revised July–September 2026 typical-use headline was £1,663.
Do these rates apply in Northern Ireland?
No. Northern Ireland has a separate energy market with its own regulator, and the Ofgem price cap does not apply there.
Official sources used for this page
BillDecoded translates official process and billing information into practical checks. It is not affiliated with the Ombudsman, Ofgem, Citizens Advice, Which? or any supplier.