Calculate your exact electricity, gas, and water bills using official January 2026 Ofgem rates and Ofwat-verified water company charges. No registration, no guesswork — just clear, honest numbers.
Seven specialist calculators using official 2025-26 rates. Enter your usage details and get accurate estimates in seconds — no signup, no spam, no cost.
Calculate your electricity costs using January 2026 Ofgem price cap rates: 27.69p per kWh unit rate and 54.75p per day standing charge. Enter your monthly or annual kWh usage to see exactly what you should be paying.
Calculate Now →Estimate gas bills with the current Ofgem price cap rate of 6.33p/kWh plus 29.82p/day standing charge. Typical household pays around £850/year for gas. Find out if you're paying too much.
Calculate Now →Calculate water and sewerage costs for all major UK water companies. Average bill is now £603/year in 2025-26 — up 26% from £473 in 2024. Compare your company's rates and find out what metered vs rateable value billing means for you.
Calculate Now →Convert appliance usage to kWh and annual costs. Understand exactly what's driving your energy bill — from your fridge and washing machine to electric showers and EV charging. Essential for finding where to cut costs.
Calculate Now →Daily standing charges vary widely across energy suppliers — the difference can be over £200/year. Calculate your annual standing charge cost and see how switching tariff or supplier could save you money even before accounting for unit rates.
Calculate Now →The Ofgem price cap applies to standard variable tariffs and is updated every quarter. Use this calculator to check how the current and upcoming price cap periods affect your specific household's bills based on your actual usage.
Calculate Now →Should you switch to a water meter? Single people and couples in larger properties typically save £100–£400/year. Installation is free from all water companies, and there's a two-year free trial with a guaranteed rollback option if your bills increase.
Compare Now →Most households receive energy bills that feel opaque and confusing. Here's exactly how the figures are worked out — and why your bill might be higher than you'd expect.
Every UK energy bill — whether for electricity or gas — is made up of two distinct charges. The first is your unit rate, which is the cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of energy you actually use. The second is the standing charge, which is a daily fixed fee you pay simply for being connected to the grid, regardless of how much energy you use. Understanding both is essential to comparing tariffs accurately.
Under the January 2026 Ofgem price cap, the electricity unit rate is 27.69p/kWh and the standing charge is 54.75p/day. For gas, the unit rate is 6.33p/kWh and the standing charge is 29.82p/day. These are the maximum rates suppliers can charge on standard variable tariffs — though suppliers on fixed deals may charge differently.
💡 Quick calculation: A typical household using 2,700 kWh electricity/year pays: (2,700 × 27.69p) + (365 × 54.75p) = £747.63 + £199.84 = £947.47/year on electricity alone.
The Ofgem price cap doesn't cap the total amount you pay — it caps the rate per unit. So if you use more energy than the "typical household" assumption (2,700 kWh electricity, 11,500 kWh gas), your total bill will exceed the £1,758 figure quoted in the media. Conversely, a well-insulated flat with low usage might pay significantly less. The price cap is reviewed every three months — January, April, July, and October.
| Component | Jan 2026 Rate | Annual Cost (typical) |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity Unit Rate | 27.69p/kWh | ~£747/year |
| Electricity Standing Charge | 54.75p/day | ~£200/year |
| Gas Unit Rate | 6.33p/kWh | ~£728/year |
| Gas Standing Charge | 29.82p/day | ~£109/year |
| VAT (5% on energy) | 5% | Included in above |
| Typical Dual Fuel Total | — | £1,758/year |
Rates apply to standard variable tariff customers (the majority of UK households). Those on fixed-rate deals may pay different unit rates — either more or less depending on when they locked in. Always compare your actual tariff letter with the current price cap to see if you're overpaying.
⚠️ Note: Rates shown are Ofgem price cap maximums for England, Wales, and Scotland. Northern Ireland energy market is regulated separately and has different rates.
The UK's most accurate and comprehensive free energy and water bill calculator platform — updated every quarter with official rates
All rates sourced directly from official providers. Energy rates from Ofgem's published price cap documents. Water rates verified from individual company charges schemes and Ofwat filings. Updated quarterly.
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No page reloads, no server delays. All calculations happen instantly in your browser. Detailed breakdowns show exactly how your bill figure is derived — not just a black-box final number.
Every calculator is paired with comprehensive educational guides. Learn how bills are structured, what standing charges really are, how the price cap works, and which money-saving steps actually make a difference.
Official Ofgem price cap rates and Ofwat-verified water company charges for the current billing period
With bills still at historically high levels, these practical steps can save the average household £200–£800 per year without major investment.
Smart meters eliminate estimated bills and give you real-time energy use data. Households with smart meters typically use 3–5% less energy simply by seeing their costs update live. Request a free installation from your supplier — it takes around 1 hour.
Dropping your heating thermostat from 21°C to 20°C typically saves around £100–£145/year on gas bills. The savings are immediate and require no upfront cost. Use your boiler's own thermostat, not just the room thermostats, for best results.
Appliances on standby cost UK households an average of £55/year. TVs, set-top boxes, phone chargers, and games consoles are the biggest culprits. Plug-in standby saver strips make it easy to cut power to multiple devices at once.
Switching from 40°C to 30°C wash cycles uses around 40% less electricity per wash. Modern detergents are just as effective at lower temperatures. For a household running 4 washes per week, this saves approximately £20–£35/year.
If you have fewer people in your home than bedrooms, a metered water supply will almost certainly save money. Free installation by all water companies. Two-year free trial with guaranteed rollback. Single occupants in 2-bed properties typically save £150–£300/year.
Winter Fuel Payment (£200–300), Warm Home Discount (£150), Cold Weather Payments (£25/week), and ECO4 grants for insulation can together save qualifying households £500–£1,500/year. Many eligible people never claim. Check every scheme every year.
Fixed-rate tariffs are available below the current price cap from several suppliers. Compare via Ofgem-accredited comparison sites. Even a modest 5p/kWh saving on electricity equals around £135/year for a typical household — with no lifestyle change required.
DIY draught-proofing of doors, windows, letterboxes, and keyholes costs £50–100 in materials and can save £60–£160/year on heating. Loft insulation (free under ECO4 for many households) saves an average £300/year and has a payback period of under 2 years if self-funded.
If you're on a time-of-use tariff like Octopus Agile or Economy 7, running dishwashers, washing machines, and EV chargers overnight or at off-peak times can reduce electricity costs by 30–60% on those loads. Use delay timer functions built into modern appliances.
Trapped air in radiators reduces heating efficiency, meaning your boiler works harder and uses more gas. Bleeding radiators costs nothing. An annual boiler service (around £80–£120) ensures your boiler runs at peak efficiency — older inefficient boilers can waste up to 35% of fuel.
Replacing all remaining halogen or incandescent bulbs with LED equivalents costs approximately £50–100 upfront and saves around £40–65/year on electricity. LEDs last 10–25 times longer than traditional bulbs, eliminating replacement costs entirely.
The most effective way to reduce your bills is to understand exactly where your energy goes. Our free kWh calculator breaks down the cost of each appliance so you can prioritise the biggest changes. Most households find 2–3 "surprise" items driving most of their bill.
Two of the most effective ways to take control of your energy costs — and both are free
Smart meters are free to install and replace your traditional gas and electricity meters. They send readings directly to your supplier (ending estimated bills forever) and provide near real-time usage data via an in-home display. Since mid-2024, all new meter installations in the UK must be SMETS2 smart meters, which work across suppliers when you switch.
The honest case for smart meters:
Smart meters don't save money automatically — but they give you the visibility to make better decisions. For households interested in time-of-use tariffs (where overnight electricity can cost 5–8p/kWh vs the daytime 27.69p), a smart meter is essential.
The switching process in 2026 is faster and simpler than ever. Under the Fast and Reliable Switching programme, most switches complete within 2–3 working days. You never lose supply — the physical energy infrastructure doesn't change, only who bills you.
Steps to switch energy supplier:
Important: You have a 14-day cooling-off period after initiating a switch. If energy prices drop significantly (as they did in 2023), you can use this window to cancel and seek a better deal. Never feel locked in during the cooling-off period.
Millions of eligible UK households fail to claim financial help available to them every year. Check all three main schemes — you may qualify for more than one.
Annual tax-free payment to help with heating costs during winter. Available to those aged 66 or over by 21 September 2025, with annual income below £35,000 or receiving Pension Credit. £200 for those under 80; £300 for those aged 80 or over. Paid automatically in November or December — you don't need to apply if you already receive the State Pension.
Check EligibilityA one-off £150 discount applied directly to your electricity bill — not a cash payment. For low-income households receiving Pension Credit Guarantee Credit (Core Group 1) or certain other means-tested benefits with a high energy cost home (Core Group 2). Applied automatically between October and March. If you think you qualify but don't receive it, contact your supplier directly.
Learn MoreAutomatic £25 payment for every 7-day period when your local area's average temperature is 0°C or below, or forecast to be 0°C or below for 7 consecutive days. Multiple payments are possible in a cold winter. Paid to those receiving certain benefits including Pension Credit, Income Support, ESA, or Universal Credit with a disability or health condition element.
Check Your PostcodeGovernment data shows that 880,000 eligible pensioners are not claiming Pension Credit — missing an average of £3,900/year in direct payments. Claiming Pension Credit automatically unlocks: Winter Fuel Payment + Warm Home Discount + free TV licence if you're 75+ + Council Tax reduction + NHS dental, optical, and prescription help. If your weekly income is under £218.15 (single) or £332.95 (couple), call 0800 99 1234 or use our eligibility checker today. This is money you're entitled to — it's not charity.
Check Pension Credit Now — Takes 5 MinutesRates, contact details, and tariff guides for all major UK energy and water companies — updated for 2025-26
Answers to the most searched questions about electricity, gas, and water bills in the UK — updated for 2026
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