Energy price cap tracker
What the cap is right now, what it means for a typical household, where it's heading next quarter — and what your bill looks like at today's capped rates.
Seen "£1,862" in the news? That's this same cap quoted on Ofgem's old typical-use figures. Ofgem lowered its definition of typical use on 1 July 2026 because average household usage has fallen. Same cap, same unit rates — just a different "typical household". We use the new definition throughout.
Do these 3 things today
- Check your rates against the table below. On a standard variable tariff you should be
paying no more than the capped rates — grab a bill or your supplier app and compare.
Paying more? You're likely on an old fix's follow-on rates — query it with your supplier.
- Get a fixed-deal quote from your supplier and one rival. With the cap up +12.6%
this quarter and forecast to nudge higher, a fix priced below today's capped rates is worth
serious consideration.
Check the exit fee before you commit, in case prices fall and you want out.
- No smart meter? Submit a reading just before 1 October 2026. It stops your supplier estimating how much of your usage falls either side of the price change.
The capped rates right now
Maximum rates for a household in England, Scotland or Wales paying by direct debit, averaged across regions — your exact rates vary a little by region and payment method. The cap limits the rates, not your total bill: use more, pay more.
| Fuel | Unit rate | Standing charge | Last quarter (Apr–Jun 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 26.11p /kWh | 57.19p /day | 24.67p · 57.21p |
| Gas | 7.33p /kWh | 29.04p /day | 5.74p · 29.09p |
Source: Ofgem price cap unit rates, July – September 2026, direct debit, GB average.
What does the cap mean for your bill?
Enter your annual usage in kWh — it's on your bill or supplier app. Not sure? We've pre-filled Ofgem's typical household. Results update as you type, and your numbers never leave your browser.
Where the cap has been — and where it's heading
| Cap period | Typical household | Change | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| April – June 2026 | £1,477 | — | Past |
| July – September 2026 | £1,664 | +12.6% | Current |
| October – December 2026 | £1,724 | +3.6% | Forecast (Ofgem — confirmed 26 August 2026) |
All figures on Ofgem's new typical-use definition so periods compare like-for-like. Forecasts move with wholesale prices — we update this table monthly, and Ofgem confirms the next cap in late November 2026.
Should I fix my energy deal?
The honest answer: it depends on the fixes you're offered, and they change weekly. But here's the logic. The cap just rose +12.6% and the current forecast has it edging slightly higher from October 2026. That means a fixed deal priced below today's capped rates protects you against the expected rise, at the cost of missing out if wholesale prices fall sharply instead.
Three checks before fixing: compare the fix's unit rates (not the headline "£X a year") against the table above; check the exit fee in case prices drop and you want out; and if you have no gas supply or very low usage, watch the standing charges — they're where cheap-looking deals hide their cost.
Ofgem itself has been encouraging households to consider fixing this quarter. We don't sell energy deals and have no commercial relationship with any supplier — this page is information, not a recommendation.
The price cap, answered
Does the price cap limit my total bill?
No — this is the most common misunderstanding. The cap limits the unit rates and standing charges your supplier can charge on a standard variable tariff. If you use more energy, you pay more. "£1,664 a year" is just what a typical household would pay at capped rates.
Why did the "typical household" figure change in July 2026?
Ofgem updated its typical domestic consumption values on 1 July 2026 — from 2,700 to 2,500 kWh of electricity and from 11,500 to 9,500 kWh of gas — because average household usage has genuinely fallen. That's why news reports quote both £1,862 (old definition) and around £1,664 (new definition) for the same cap. The rates you pay are identical either way.
Am I on the price cap?
You're on capped rates if you're on a standard variable tariff — which is usually what happens when a fixed deal ends and you do nothing, or if you've never switched. If you're mid-way through a fixed deal, the cap doesn't apply to you (your fix already sets your rates).
When does the cap change next, and when will we know the new level?
The cap changes every three months. The next change is 1 October 2026, and Ofgem announces the confirmed level in late November 2026. Cornwall Insight's forecast — currently about £1,724 for a typical household — is the best early indicator and has a strong track record close to announcement time.
What was the VAT cut announced in July 2026?
On 21 July 2026 the government announced a cut in VAT on electricity bills. The forecast figure on this page already includes it. We will update this page with the confirmed effect on rates as Ofgem and suppliers publish the details.
Do prepayment or standard credit customers pay the same?
Not quite — the cap sets different levels by payment method. Direct debit is the benchmark we show; standard credit (paying on receipt of a bill) is more expensive, and prepayment rates sit close to direct debit under the current arrangements. Rates also vary slightly by region.
Methodology and sources
Rates come from Ofgem's published price cap levels (July – September 2026, direct debit, GB average). Forecasts come from Cornwall Insight's default tariff cap forecast. Typical-household figures are calculated from those rates using Ofgem's typical domestic consumption values (2,500 kWh electricity, 9,500 kWh gas) — we compute them, we don't copy them. We re-check every figure on this page monthly, and after every Ofgem cap announcement.
- Ofgem — energy price cap unit rates and standing charges — checked 27 August 2026
- Cornwall Insight — default tariff cap forecasts — Ofgem — confirmed 26 August 2026