Understanding the Ofgem energy price cap
Price updated 9 July 2026 · Q3 2026 (Jul–Sep)
Most of the running costs on this site depend on one number: the price you pay per unit of electricity. In Great Britain that price is shaped by the Ofgem energy price cap, so it's worth understanding what the cap actually is.
What the price cap is
The price cap is a limit set by the energy regulator, Ofgem, on what suppliers can charge per unit of gas and electricity, and on the daily standing charge, for customers on a standard variable tariff. It is not a cap on your total bill — if you use more, you pay more. It caps the rates, not the amount.
Unit rate vs standing charge
- Unit rate: the price per kWh of electricity you use. This is currently 26.11p per kWh and is what drives every appliance cost on this site.
- Standing charge: a fixed daily fee you pay regardless of usage, currently 57.19p per day for electricity. It covers keeping you connected to the grid and does not change with how much you use an appliance.
It changes every quarter
Ofgem reviews and updates the cap four times a year — in January, April, July and October. The current period is Q3 2026 (Jul–Sep). When the cap changes, every figure on this site is updated from a single value, so the running costs you see always reflect the latest published rate. The date each page was last updated is shown so you can see how fresh the figure is.
Regional differences
The cap varies slightly by region because distribution costs differ around the country. We use the national average unit rate, which is a fair representative figure. If you know your own exact rate, type it into any calculator on the site for a precise result.