Your guide to understanding the average UK energy bill.

Let’s talk about energy bills. Yes, they're a topic nobody loves — especially as living costs continue to fluctuate. But at E.ON Next, we're here to clear up any uncertainties and give you some useful stats and information on the subject. After unpicking what the average energy in the UK looks like, we go on to investigate factors that influence your bill, sharing plenty of energy saving tips along the way.

Understanding the average UK energy bill.

You’re probably keen to know what the average UK energy bill looks like to see how your home compares, right? It’s a common question that many energy customers want to know. So, let’s start at the beginning by taking a deep dive into key stats and figures for different households. Don’t worry, we’ll break it down as we go along, so you won’t get lost in the numbers. Keep in mind though, we are just talking averages, and your actual bill will depend on various factors.

What’s the average energy bill in the UK?

Right, let’s get into it. Going by Ofgem’s latest results, the average annual energy bill (electricity and gas combined) for a typical household in the UK is around £1,849. This works out roughly as £154 per month. And by ‘typical’, we mean a two to three person home. This price reflects the current price cap for the period of 1 April to 30 June 2025. These figures change with Ofgem's price cap, reviewed every three months.

What’s the average energy bill by home size?

It's only natural to wonder how your bill compares to other homes, so let’s dive into the numbers and explore some more specific examples using the April 1 price cap rate.

Average cost for electricity and gas combined.¹

In the following table, 'low' refers to a flat or one bed house with one to two people and 'medium' refers to a three bed house with two to three people, while 'high' refers to five bed house with four to five people.

The average annual electricity and gas consumption for a 'low' household is 1,800 kWh and 7,500 kWh, 2,700 kWh and 11,500 kWh for a 'medium' household, and 4,100 kWh and 17,500 for a 'high' household.

Average cost for electricity only.¹

In the following table, 'low' refers to a flat or one bed house with one to two people and 'medium' refers to a three bed house with two to three people, while 'high' refers to five bed house with four to five people.

Plus, the average annual electricity consumption for a 'low' household is 1,800 kWh, 2,700 kWh for a 'medium' household, and 4,100 kWh for a 'high' household.

Average cost for gas only.¹

In the following table, 'low' refers to a flat or one bed house with one to two people and 'medium' refers to a three bed house with two to three people, while 'high' refers to five bed house with four to five people.

Additionally, the average annual gas consumption for a 'low' household is 7,500 kWh, 11,500 kWh for a 'medium' household, and 17,500 kWh for a 'high' household.

However, these are the national averages, so if you’re looking at your bill and scratching your head, hang on a moment. These figures reflect the cost, which fluctuates with market prices, not just the raw amount of energy used.

It's also worth noting that these figures are based on typical energy use, and what's typical for one person might be wildly different for another. Factors like home insulation, appliances and number of occupants all play a part in your bill.

Factors that influence your energy bill.

There are plenty of factors that drive overall energy spendings. In this section, we’ll investigate just what those factors are, from home size and number of occupants to naughty habits and energy draining appliances.

Home size and type.

The size and construction of your home can make a big difference in your energy bill. Let’s face it, a large, draughty town house is most likely going to cost a lot more to heat than a modern, well-insulated flat. Older homes often leak heat due to poor insulation, while newer builds tend to be more energy-efficient.

You can delve even further into property type and find more contributing factors. Take a detached house. It could have more exposed walls than a terrace house or a flat in the middle of a block. All this can lead to heat loss leading to higher bills. But we’ll discuss energy saving tips a bit further down.

Number of occupants.

It's simple: more people equals more energy use. Think about it. One person living alone might be happy with one shower a day. But multiply that person by four, and that’s three more showers. There’s also laundry loads, more lights on in the evening, and more phones on charge.

So, it’s important to take household size into account when you’re calculating your energy bill. But this is just one piece of the puzzle!

Energy use habits.

The way you use energy at home also makes a big difference. For example, if lots of people in your house work from home, you'll probably use more electricity during the day than a house where everyone's out most of the day.

Then there’s that one person who likes leaving the light on in empty rooms, or leaving appliances plugged in even when they’re no longer in use! Habits like this have consequences, and your energy bills will let you know.

Here are some other energy drainers that you may not think of immediately:

• Old appliances that aren’t energy efficient.

• Long, hot showers.

• Not using a timer for your heating.

• Boiling a full kettle for one cuppa.

• Leaving the TV on constant standby.

• Leaving your laptop in ‘sleep’ mode.

• Using the dryer when there’s a perfectly good drying rack.

Learn more about how much appliances cost to run and their kilowatt hour (kWh) measurements.

Appliance efficiency.

Old appliances can also be a real drain. Upgrading your old appliances now can lead to noticeable savings on your energy bills over time.

To ensure your appliances are as energy-efficient as possible, always check the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating label. In 2021, the way of doing EPC labels was phased out and a new rating was brought in. Now, if an appliance has an A rating, it's working efficiently. However, if the rating is lower, it might be time for a new, energy-efficient upgrade.

Here are some comparisons to put everything into perspective:

• A+++ is now equivalent to a B or C rating.

• A++ is now equivalent to a D or E rating.

• A+ is now equivalent to an F or G rating.

Find out more about EPC ratings for appliances.

Heating and cooling.

Heating is a big influence on your energy bills. Older boilers can be highly inefficient. If you're not sure how efficient your system is, get it checked by a qualified engineer. As for how much it costs to have your heating on each day depends on your system, your house, and your tariff.

Electric vehicle owners.

Charging an electric vehicle (EV) at home is going to amp up your electricity use and naturally, your energy bill. But it’s important to point out that on average, the cost to charge your EV at home is over 50% per unit cheaper than paying at a public charger. Plus, the savings could be even bigger if you have cheaper off-peak electricity at home.

You can minimise the impact by switching to one of our EV tariffs. Our Next Drive tariff gives you cheaper rates at off-peak times, and uses 100% renewable energy.

Solar panels on your house.

Solar panels work by converting sunlight into electricity. More and more homes around the UK are turning to solar panels and it’s becoming one of the fastest growing renewable energy sources.

Installing some solar panels of your own could significantly bring down your energy bills. You can also earn money by exporting surplus energy back to the grid through the Smart Export Guarantee. Learn more about our solar panel installation and deals.

Take control of your energy bill.

If you’ve come away from the last few sections feeling like you need to make some changes to your energy use, you're in the right place to make a start. Coming up, we'll cover the best ways to bring down your energy bills, from switching tariffs to reviewing our energy saving check list.

Explore our tariffs.

We’re all about helping you manage your energy costs so you can spend more money on the things you enjoy. Whether you live in a one-bed flat that runs on electricity or a large energy-draining town house, choosing the right energy tariff can make a big difference to your energy bills.

Choose from a variety of fixed and variable tariffs, or use our tariff search tool to find the best option for you and your home.

Consider a smart meter.

Opting for a smart meter may help you to manage your energy costs more efficiently. A smart meter in-home display gives you real time use data. You can use this information to track your energy use and make mindful choices. They also get rid of the need for long-winded manual meter readings, giving you more accurate billing.

You can find out everything you need to know about smart meters and book a smart meter appointment.

Install an air source heat pump.

Installing an air source heat pump can be a great way of making your home more sustainable and reducing your heating costs. It works by taking warmth from the outside air or ground, and using it to heat your home. A heat pump also gives you hot water, creating a cleaner, more efficient alternative to a gas boiler.

Check out our energy saving tips.

There are lots of little tricks you can do to save energy. From turning down your thermostat to draught-proofing your home. Here's a quick checklist to help you get started:

• Turn off lights when you leave a room.

• Take shorter showers.

• Unplug appliances when you're not using them.

• Only boil as much water as you need.

Explore more energy saving tips to help you hone your energy use.

Your average UK energy bill FAQs.