How much is a unit of electricity in the UK?
A "unit" of electricity is one kilowatt-hour (kWh). Under the Ofgem price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026, the average unit rate is 26.32p per kWh, plus a daily standing charge of 54.83p per day. These are Great Britain averages for a standard variable tariff paid by Direct Debit.
Your own rate can be different. It depends on your region, how you pay and whether you're on a fixed deal. The figure on your bill always wins.
Prices last checked: 26 September 2026 · Source: Ofgem energy price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026 · Great Britain average, standard variable tariff, paid by Direct Debit
Current and previous cap rates
| Ofgem price cap period | Electricity unit rate | Electricity standing charge | Gas unit rate | Gas standing charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 October to 31 December 2026 | 26.32p/kWh | 54.83p/day | 7.97p/kWh | 29.68p/day |
| 1 July to 30 September 2026 | 26.11p/kWh | 57.19p/day | — | — |
Ofgem also publishes separate cap rates for each region and for standard credit and prepayment customers. If you want the exact cap for your area, use the regional tables on the Ofgem page.
What does one unit of electricity run?
One kWh is 1,000 watts for one hour. At 26.32p, here is what that buys:
| Appliance | Time on 1 kWh | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2kW heater on full | 30 min | Heater costs |
| 9.5kW electric shower | about 6 min | Shower costs |
| Kettle | about 9 litres boiled | Kettle costs |
| 100W TV | 10 hours | TV costs |
| Fridge freezer rated 250 kWh/year | about 1.5 days | Fridge costs |
| EV at 3.5 miles/kWh | about 3 miles | EV charging |
The UK appliance costs section has a page for 19 common appliances.
How a UK electricity bill is built
Unit rate × units used
The part you control. Your meter counts kWh, and each one is charged at the unit rate.
Standing charge × days
A fixed daily amount for being connected, covering network and supply costs. It is charged even if you use nothing.
VAT
Domestic energy normally carries VAT at a reduced rate, usually already included in the quoted rates. Ofgem's electricity figures for this period include no VAT: the government removed VAT from domestic electricity from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027. Gas figures include 5% VAT.
Payment method and region
Direct Debit, standard credit and prepayment each have their own cap. Rates also differ between the 14 regions, mainly because of network costs.
Example: a month's electricity at the cap
A household using 200 kWh in a 30-day month would pay, at the cap averages:
| Part of the bill | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Energy used | 200 kWh × 26.32p | £52.64 |
| Standing charge | 30 days × 54.83p | £16.45 |
| Total for the month | £69.09 |
Over a full year, the standing charge alone comes to about £200. For a low-use home, that fixed part can be a big share of the bill. It is also why switching one appliance off never makes a bill fall in exact proportion.
Common mistakes with UK unit prices
- Entering pence as pounds. 26.32p is £0.2632 per kWh. Typing 26.32 into a calculator in pounds makes everything a hundred times too big.
- Using the "price cap" headline figure. Ofgem also quotes a yearly figure for a typical dual-fuel household. That is an illustration of a whole bill, not a cap on what you pay.
- Adding the standing charge to an appliance's cost. It doesn't change when the appliance is off.
- Assuming a fixed tariff follows the cap. Fixed deals keep their own agreed rates until they end.
Frequently asked questions
What is a unit of electricity?
One kilowatt-hour (kWh): the energy used by a 1,000W appliance running for one hour. Bills, meters and suppliers use "unit" and "kWh" to mean the same thing.
How much is 1 kWh of electricity in the UK?
On average 26.32p under the Ofgem cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026, for Direct Debit customers on a standard variable tariff in Great Britain.
Does the price cap mean my bill can't go up?
No. The cap limits the unit rate and standing charge, not the total. Using more energy still costs more.
Is Northern Ireland covered by the cap?
No. The Ofgem cap covers England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has a separate market, so use the rate on your own bill.
My bill shows pence per kWh. How do I use that in a calculator?
Divide by 100. 24.5p/kWh becomes 0.245 in any calculator that works in pounds.
EuroWattCalc is an independent site. We are not a supplier, a comparison service or a regulator. Rates here come from Ofgem's published figures, checked on the date shown at the top of the page.