England, Scotland and Wales · 1 October to 31 December 2026
Your energy bill this winter, in plain English.
From 1 October the price cap puts a typical bill at £1,723 a yearSource: Ofgem, up £60Source: Ofgem. Here’s what that means for you, the help there is, and whether to fix. Every figure links to the Ofgem or GOV.UK page it comes from.
The numbers, 1 October to 31 December 2026
Great Britain averages for Direct Debit under the price cap. Yours depend on where you live, how you pay and your meter.
- Typical yearly bill, gas and electricity
- £1,723Source: Ofgem
- Electricity
- 26.32p per kWhSource: Ofgem
+ 54.83p a daySource: Ofgem - Gas
- 7.97p per kWhSource: Ofgem
+ 29.68p a daySource: Ofgem - This winter only
- No VAT on household electricity until 31 March 2027Source: Ofgem.
Next change: Ofgem announces the January to March 2027 cap by 25 November 2026Source: Ofgem.
What you can do
- What will my bill be? →Put in your yearly use and how you pay, and see a year at this winter’s capped rates.
- The price cap, explained →What it limits and what it doesn’t, the rates for each way of paying, and why your bill can still go up.
- Help with your bills →The Warm Home Discount, Winter Fuel Payment, Cold Weather Payment and grants for insulation and heat pumps.
- If you can’t pay →What your supplier has to do, your rights on prepayment meters, and where to get free help.
- Fix, or stay on the cap? →How fixed deals compare, exit fees, and how switching works.
Help this winter, at a glance
Warm Home Discount
£150 off your electricity billSource: GOV.UK, usually automatic if you get certain benefits.
Winter Fuel Payment
£100 to £300 if you were born on or before 27 June 1960Source: GOV.UK, not in Scotland.
Cold Weather Payment
£25 for each 7-day period of very cold weatherSource: GOV.UK, if you get certain benefits.
How we check
Every figure comes from Ofgem, GOV.UK, the Energy Ombudsman or Citizens Advice, and links to the page it came from. Hover or tap the source to see the words on that page and when we read it. We re-check everything each time Ofgem announces a new cap. We don’t sell energy, compare tariffs or take money from suppliers. How we check