Average Gas & Electricity Prices per kWh in the UK

Last Updated: 15th December 2024

When comparing gas and electricity prices, we must look at two parts of an energy bill. This includes the 'Standing Charge' applied daily, whether energy is used or not, and the unit rate you pay per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of consumption. 

• Unit rate - Measured in kilowatt hours (kWh), the amount you pay for the gas and electricity you use. If you have a fixed tariff, the unit rate is fixed, but your bills will still vary depending on how much energy you use. If you're on a variable tariff, the amount can change anytime. 
• Standing charge - This is a fixed daily fee to cover the cost of supplying gas and electricity to your house whether you use energy or now 

Although the cost of your energy bills ultimately depends on how much gas and electricity you use each month, you want to ensure you are on the cheapest energy tariff possible. These tariffs offer lower unit rates per kilowatt-hour (kWh) and lower daily standing charges, ensuring you pay less. 

What is the average electricity cost per kWh across the UK?

The average cost of electricity per kWh in the UK is currently 24.50p. That is a 9.7% increase compared to previous energy price cap rates. Here is the breakdown per region:

Standing Charges and Unit Rates based on Ofgem's Price Cap from 1st October 2024

When comparing the electricity unit rates you are paying, it is sometimes helpful to understand what the average electricity cost is in your region. This is because energy prices differ depending on which part of the country you live in, known as a PES region - standing for 'Public Electricity Suppliers' that each powered certain areas of the UK when the electricity sector was privatised in 1997. 

What is the average electricity standing charge across the UK?

The average standing charge for electricity is 60.99p per day across the UK.

Use the table below to compare your daily standing charge for electricity, to the average cost per region:

Standing Charges and Unit Rates based on Ofgem's Price Cap from 1st October 2024

What is the average gas price across the UK?

The average cost of gas per kWh across the UK is 6.24p. Here is the breakdown per region:

Standing Charges and Unit Rates based on Ofgem's Price Cap from 1st October 2024

What is the average gas standing charge in my region?

The average standing charge for gas is 31.66p per day across the UK. 

Use the table below to compare your daily standing charge for gas, to the average cost per region:

What is a kWh?

A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is the unit of energy that suppliers use to measure how much gas and electricity you're using, and works out at 1,000 watts (W) - or 1 kilowatt (kW) - of energy used for one hour (h).

The amount you pay per kWh will depend upon your supplier, the type of tariff you're on, your payment method (e.g. monthly direct debit), meter type (e.g. standard or prepayment) and where in the country you are. It's important to know your unit rate so you know how much you're paying for the energy you use and can use this figure when comparing gas and electricity prices.

How to calculate appliance energy use

Choosing a deal with a lower unit rate is one of the simplest ways to reduce energy costs. It also helps to switch to energy-efficient appliances or at least use your existing appliances more efficiently either by setting things to "Eco" mode, using lower temperatures, or setting timers to take advantage of significantly reduced energy prices during "off-peak" hours, which are available through Economy 7, EV or, more recently, Time of Use (ToU) tariffs. Here, you can take advantage of unit prices up to 70% cheaper than usual offering big savings on your energy bills. For this reason, it helps to know how much energy your appliances use and to take action to use them more effectively. Use our electricity cost calculator to find out.

The power of your electrical appliances, from light bulbs to washing machines, is measured in watts. Once you know this figure, you can work out the running costs of any appliance by multiplying the wattage by the number of hours it's been used and then dividing this figure by 1,000.

A 50W light bulb, for example, would need to be switched on for 20 hours to use 1kWh of energy, while a 200W games console would need to be played for five hours to use 1kWh of energy.

How to compare energy prices per kWh

The simplest way to compare energy prices per kWh is to run an energy price comparison at The Energy Shop. We'll show you a range of money-saving deals, alongside how much each could save you if you switch.

To start your energy comparison, enter your postcode and house number above. We'll find a deal to cut your gas and electric bills. You can then choose the deal you prefer, and we'll help you switch energy suppliers and save money.