Useful next calculations
Rates and sources, 1 Oct – 31 Dec 2026
Ofgem average Direct Debit unit rates and standing charges for Great Britain from 1 October to 31 December 2026. Electricity figures exclude VAT (temporary zero rate from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027); gas figures include 5% VAT. Actual rates vary by region, payment method and meter type.
| Band or figure | Rate |
|---|---|
| Electricity unit rate | 26.32p/kWh |
| Gas unit rate | 7.97p/kWh |
| Electricity standing charge | 54.83p/day |
| Gas standing charge | 29.68p/day |
Source: Ofgem — Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges. Source checked for 1 Oct – 31 Dec 2026.
When to use this calculator
- Before switching supplier, upgrading equipment or comparing energy-saving changes.
- When you want to test different usage or price scenarios quickly.
- When you need a simple estimate before requesting installer or supplier quotes.
- When a tariff is about to change and you want to model the bill impact.
A worked example
These are the example figures the calculator opens with.
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual Electricity Usage (kWh) | 2,500 |
| Annual Gas Usage (kWh) | 9,500 |
| Your Current Tariff | Ofgem price cap (standard) |
| Electricity Unit Rate (p/kWh) — if fixed | 26.32 |
For those figures the calculator returns:
- Annual electricity cost: £858.13
- Annual gas cost: £865.48
- Total annual bill: £1,723.61
- Monthly average: £143.63
- Saving vs price cap: £0.00
Method & assumptions
This calculator uses Ofgem’s Great Britain average Direct Debit rates for 1 October to 31 December 2026: 26.32p/kWh electricity, 7.97p/kWh gas, and daily standing charges of 54.83p and 29.68p respectively. Ofgem’s electricity figures do not include VAT, because the government has removed VAT from domestic electricity in Great Britain from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027; its gas figures include VAT at 5%. The rates are rounded to two decimal places. They are averages for England, Scotland and Wales; actual capped rates vary by region, payment method and meter type. The default usage of 2,500 kWh of electricity and 9,500 kWh of gas is Ofgem’s 2026 typical domestic consumption; at those figures these rates give about £1,724 a year (Ofgem quotes a typical cap of £1,723). Ofgem sets a new cap every three months, with the next announcement due by 25 November 2026 for 1 January to 31 March 2027.
For a fixed tariff, enter the unit rates and standing charges from your tariff information. The tool annualises daily standing charges over 365 days and estimates usage costs from the kWh entered. It is a budgeting comparison, not a bill, price forecast or switching recommendation; check your supplier’s rates and terms before acting.
Common mistakes
- Using the current tariff without testing a higher unit rate.
- Forgetting the standing charge when comparing annual bills.
- Treating the result as a supplier quote.
- Using optimistic savings figures for an upgrade without a written estimate.
What to do next
- Run the same scenario with a 10% higher unit rate.
- Compare this result with a related energy calculator before requesting installer quotes.
- If you are evaluating an upgrade, rerun with actual quote figures.
- Set a reminder to rerun the calculation when your tariff renews.