Switching your energy supplier is one of the most effective ways to reduce your utility bills. To make an informed decision, it's crucial to understand your current annual gas and electricity expenses and how they compare to the average UK household. This knowledge allows you to determine whether the savings offered by a new supplier are truly beneficial.
To help you secure the best energy deal, we've outlined key information on typical gas and electricity costs and provided guidance on switching suppliers.
Knowing the average energy bill can help you:
For a medium-sized household in a 3–4 bedroom house, the average annual energy bill for a dual-fuel customer (gas and electricity combined) is £1,717. This works out at £143 per month under the current price cap.
As shown in our energy prices per kwh article, we can use the average unit rate and standing charge across the country to work out the average energy bill for small, medium and large households.
For reference the table below shows the average unit rate and standing charge.
| Electricity | Gas | |
| Unit rates | 24.50p per kWh | 6.24p per kWh |
| Standing charge | 60.99p per day | 31.66p per day |
As shown on our average gas and electricity usage page, we can see the average usage for the different sized homes across the UK. Combining this with the average unit rates and standing charges, we can then work out the average energy bill by house size.
| Energy Use | Number of bedrooms | Gas usage (kWh) | Electricity usage (kWh) | Average annual dual fuel energy bill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 1-2 | 7,500 | 1,800 | £1,247.17 |
| Medium | 3-4 | 11,500 | 2,700 | £1,717.27 |
| High | 5+ | 17,000 | 4,100 | £2,403.47 |
The cost of your energy bill depends on several factors:
The amount of energy your household uses is primarily affected by the number of people and appliances in your house. In general, the more people and more appliances, the more energy you use.
The energy efficiency of your home also affects the amount of energy you use. If your house has cavity wall and loft insulation, it'll use less energy than one without proper insulation, simply because more of the heat is kept within the home, meaning your heating system doesn't have to work as hard. You'll also use less energy if you have an energy efficient boiler and use energy efficient appliances.
The way you use energy also affects the amount you use, so try to avoid leaving appliances on standby and always turn off lights in empty rooms to avoid needlessly using electricity.
To compare your energy use against the UK average, take a copy of your latest bill and check the amount of gas and electricity your using. Once you have a figure, compare it to the figures above to see how you measure up.
If your figures are higher than average you need to consider ways to cut your average energy usage, or think about improving the energy efficiency of your home.
To compare the cost of your energy bills against the UK average, check the cost of your last energy bill and compare it to the monthly, quarterly or energy figures in the tables above.
If you're paying above the average rates, it's time to switch to a better deal.
But the simplest way to compare your energy costs against the average is to run an energy price comparison with The Energy Shop. We'll show you a range of money-saving deals, alongside how much each could save you if you switch.
To compare energy prices, enter your postcode and house number above, and we'll find a deal to cut the cost of your gas and electric bills. You just then need to choose the deal you prefer, and we'll help you switch energy supplier and save money.
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The Energy Shop is a free, independent and impartial energy comparison service. We can help you compare and switch energy suppliers to save money. Our service is accredited by the Ofgem Confidence Code.
