Energy price cap by region
From 1 October to 31 December 2026, a typical home paying by Direct Debit pays £1,672 a year under Ofgem’s price cap in East Midlands and £1,804 in Merseyside and Northern Wales, a gap of £132. The Great Britain average is £1,723. Unit rates and standing charges differ by region because local network costs differ.
Facts checked: 31 October 2026 · Source: Ofgem · Next change: 1 January 2027 (announced 25 November 2026)
At a glance
Cheapest region for a typical home: East Midlands.
Our calculation · Ofgem ratesMost expensive: Merseyside and Northern Wales.
Our calculation · Ofgem ratesHighest electricity standing charge a day, in Merseyside and Northern Wales.
Source: OfgemLowest electricity standing charge a day, in London.
Source: OfgemWhat would you pay?
Estimate your bill
Pick your region and enter your yearly use from a bill or your supplier’s app. We’ve filled in Ofgem’s typical use.
Your estimate under the cap
Estimate at price cap rates for 1 October to 31 December 2026, paying by Direct Debit, before any discounts. Your supplier’s rates may differ if you’re on a fixed deal.
Price cap rates in all 14 regions
Sorted from cheapest to most expensive for a typical home. Rates for 1 October to 31 December 2026.
| Region | Electricity unit rate | Electricity standing charge | Gas unit rate | Gas standing charge | Typical yearly bill | vs GB average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Midlands | 25.36p/kWh | 51.45p/day | 7.82p/kWh | 29.41p/day | £1,672 | −£51 |
| North Western England | 26.49p/kWh | 45.68p/day | 7.86p/kWh | 29.81p/day | £1,684 | −£39 |
| London | 26.60p/kWh | 42.92p/day | 8.15p/kWh | 30.20p/day | £1,706 | −£17 |
| West Midlands | 25.60p/kWh | 57.23p/day | 7.90p/kWh | 29.71p/day | £1,707 | −£16 |
| Eastern England | 26.61p/kWh | 51.84p/day | 7.91p/kWh | 29.34p/day | £1,713 | −£10 |
| Northern Scotland | 26.35p/kWh | 55.14p/day | 7.87p/kWh | 29.87p/day | £1,716 | −£7 |
| Southern England | 26.47p/kWh | 47.81p/day | 8.17p/kWh | 29.16p/day | £1,718 | −£5 |
| North Eastern England | 25.46p/kWh | 61.58p/day | 7.92p/kWh | 29.79p/day | £1,722 | −£1 |
| Yorkshire | 25.60p/kWh | 61.67p/day | 7.90p/kWh | 29.77p/day | £1,724 | +£1 |
| Southern Scotland | 26.11p/kWh | 61.41p/day | 7.87p/kWh | 29.89p/day | £1,733 | +£10 |
| South Eastern England | 26.88p/kWh | 52.32p/day | 8.05p/kWh | 29.26p/day | £1,734 | +£11 |
| Southern Wales | 26.55p/kWh | 55.41p/day | 8.09p/kWh | 29.96p/day | £1,743 | +£20 |
| South Western England | 26.58p/kWh | 55.58p/day | 8.12p/kWh | 29.31p/day | £1,745 | +£22 |
| Merseyside and Northern Wales | 27.86p/kWh | 67.66p/day | 7.91p/kWh | 30.08p/day | £1,804 | +£81 |
| Great Britain average | 26.32p/kWh | 54.83p/day | 7.97p/kWh | 29.68p/day | £1,723 | — |
Why prices differ by region
The cap is set separately for each of Great Britain’s 14 electricity network regions. Part of every bill pays for the local network that carries energy to your home, and those costs differ from region to region, mostly showing up in the standing charge. That’s why Merseyside and Northern Wales pays 67.66p a day for electricity and London 42.92p.
How to find your region
Your region is set by where you live, not by your supplier. It’s usually shown on your bill or in your supplier’s app. Northern Ireland has its own energy market and isn’t covered by Ofgem’s price cap.
What the cap does and doesn’t do
- It limits the unit rates and standing charges on standard variable tariffs, not your total bill. Use more, pay more.
- Prepayment customers have a slightly lower cap; Standard Credit customers, who pay on receipt of a bill, a higher one.
- Fixed tariffs aren’t covered by the cap. See fixed or variable?
- The January to March 2027 cap is announced on 25 November 2026. Cornwall Insight forecasts about £1,999 a year for a typical home, a forecast rather than an Ofgem decision.
Common questions
Which region has the cheapest energy?
East Midlands, where a typical home pays about £1,672 a year under the cap from 1 October to 31 December 2026, by our calculation from Ofgem’s rates.
Which region has the most expensive energy?
Merseyside and Northern Wales, at about £1,804 a year for a typical home, mainly because of its higher electricity standing charge of 67.66p a day.
Why is my standing charge higher than my friend’s?
Standing charges are set by region and cover local network costs. If you live in a different region, you’ll pay a different standing charge under the cap.
Does the price cap apply in Northern Ireland?
No. Ofgem’s price cap covers England, Scotland and Wales only.