Energy prices
Energy prices by region
The price cap isn’t one price. Ofgem sets it separately for each of Great Britain’s 14 electricity regions. These are the rates for 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026, paying by direct debit.
Find your region
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Rates in every region
Cheapest first, for a home using Ofgem’s typical 2,500 kWh of electricity and 9,500 kWh of gas a year.
| Region | Electricity per kWh | Electricity per day | Gas per kWh | Gas per day | Typical year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Midlands | 25.36p | 51.45p | 7.82p | 29.41p | £1,672 |
| North West England | 26.49p | 45.68p | 7.86p | 29.81p | £1,684 |
| London | 26.60p | 42.92p | 8.15p | 30.20p | £1,706 |
| West Midlands | 25.60p | 57.23p | 7.90p | 29.71p | £1,708 |
| East of England | 26.61p | 51.84p | 7.91p | 29.34p | £1,713 |
| North Scotland | 26.35p | 55.14p | 7.87p | 29.87p | £1,717 |
| Southern England | 26.47p | 47.81p | 8.17p | 29.16p | £1,719 |
| North East England | 25.46p | 61.58p | 7.92p | 29.79p | £1,722 |
| Yorkshire | 25.60p | 61.67p | 7.90p | 29.77p | £1,724 |
| South and Central Scotland | 26.11p | 61.41p | 7.87p | 29.89p | £1,734 |
| South East England | 26.88p | 52.32p | 8.05p | 29.26p | £1,735 |
| South Wales | 26.55p | 55.41p | 8.09p | 29.96p | £1,744 |
| South West England | 26.58p | 55.58p | 8.12p | 29.31p | £1,746 |
| Merseyside and North Wales | 27.86p | 67.66p | 7.91p | 30.08p | £1,805 |
| Great Britain average | 26.32p | 54.83p | 7.97p | 29.68p | £1,724 |
Direct debit, single-rate electricity. Gas includes 5% VAT. Electricity carries no VAT until 31 March 2027.
Where the difference comes from
Unit rates are close everywhere. The standing charge is where regions part company: electricity costs 67.66p a day before you use anything in Merseyside and North Wales, against 42.92p in London. Over a year that’s £90 for the same nothing. Ofgem sets each region’s standing charge from the cost of building and improving its network, how many people share that cost, and how much energy they use on average.
Standing charges alone come to £357 a year in Merseyside and North Wales for a home with both fuels, against £267 in London. That’s why low users in high-standing-charge regions pay so much per kWh in the end, and why a tariff with a lower standing charge is worth more there.
Prepayment unit rates are a little lower than direct debit; standing charges are the same. Economy 7 and other multi-rate meters have their own standing charge, and each region page gives it.
Common questions
- Why do energy prices differ by region?
- Mostly because of what it costs to run each region’s electricity network, which is spread over the homes in it. That lands mainly on the electricity standing charge: from 42.92p a day in London to 67.66p in Merseyside and North Wales, a difference of £90 a year before any electricity is used. Gas rates vary much less.
- Which region has the cheapest energy?
- For a home using Ofgem’s typical amounts (2,500 kWh of electricity and 9,500 kWh of gas), East Midlands is cheapest under the current cap at about £1,672 a year, and Merseyside and North Wales the dearest at about £1,805.
- How do I know which energy region I am in?
- Use the postcode finder on this page, or look at your electricity bill. The long MPAN number starts, on its bottom row, with two digits that identify your region: 10 is the East of England, 12 London, 19 the South East, and so on. Each region page gives its number.
- Is electricity cheaper on prepayment?
- Yes, slightly. Prepayment unit rates are capped a little below direct debit in every region, and standing charges are the same. Paying when the bill arrives (standard credit) costs more than either.
Your own yearly use is on your bill or in your supplier’s app. The tariff checker prices any quote on it, and home energy use by area shows what homes near you use.
Rates from Ofgem, checked 23 October 2026. Northern Ireland has its own market and isn’t covered by the cap.