The maps below show the regional breakdown of electricity prices per kWh, fixed electricity costs and average electricity bills in the UK. While the regions may look a little strange they reflect the local Distribution Network Operator.
All data comes from GOV.UK with data for Northern Ireland excluded because costs are calculated slightly differently.
Electricity Prices Per kWh
Sometimes referred to as the unit price of electricity, the price per kWh is based on usage. The map above shows average regional electricity prices per kWh based for standard electricity tariffs (as opposed to Economy 7 tariffs) across all payment types (prepaid, credit and direct debit).
| Region | Average variable unit price (pence per kWh) |
|---|---|
| North Scotland | 15.60p |
| South West | 15.54p |
| Merseyside & North Wales | 15.18p |
| South Wales | 15.07p |
| South East | 14.68p |
| London | 14.53p |
| United Kingdom | 14.40p |
| Southern | 14.29p |
| North West | 14.27p |
| North East | 14.26p |
| West Midlands | 14.25p |
| Eastern | 14.06p |
| South Scotland | 13.97p |
| Yorkshire | 13.92p |
| East Midlands | 13.86p |
Fixed Electricity Costs
The fixed cost of electricity, as the name suggests, is how much you have to pay regardless of how much electricity you use. It is usually shown as a daily standing charge, priced in pence per day. The map above shows the average cost per region.
| Region | Average Daily Standing Charge (Pence per Day) |
|---|---|
| Merseyside & North Wales | 21.53p |
| South Scotland | 21.47p |
| North Scotland | 20.73p |
| North East | 20.63p |
| UK | 20.58p |
| West Midlands | 20.54p |
| Yorkshire | 20.53p |
| London | 20.39p |
| South Wales | 20.30p |
| North West | 20.29p |
| Southern | 20.28p |
| Eastern | 20.26p |
| East Midlands | 20.22p |
| South West | 19.45p |
| South East | 19.25p |
Average Electricity Bills
Average annual electricity bills simply reflect the average annual fixed costs added to average annual variable consumption amount. However, calculating average annual variable consumption (in terms of kWh) is not as simple as it seems. Ofgem (the industry regulator) uses 3,100 kWh per year as their average, whereas GOV.UK uses 3,800 kWh per year.
However, the latest stats show that the average UK household in 2017 used 3,374 kWh. Therefore that’s what we’ve used to calculate the numbers above. However, you should be aware that we’re using a UK-wide usage average whereas usage almost certainly varies by region as well, so the differences between regions are likely even greater than those shown on the map.
| Region | Average Annual Electricity Bill |
|---|---|
| North Scotland | £602.13 |
| South West | £595.32 |
| Merseyside & North Wales | £590.88 |
| South Wales | £582.56 |
| South East | £565.67 |
| London | £564.60 |
| United Kingdom | £557.94 |
| North East | £556.41 |
| Southern | £556.03 |
| West Midlands | £555.73 |
| North West | £555.68 |
| South Scotland | £549.68 |
| Eastern | £548.27 |
| Yorkshire | £544.42 |
| East Midlands | £541.51 |