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How Much is the Average Home Energy Bill in the UK?

Home energy bills are becoming more and more confusing. Homeowners and tenants are finding it increasingly difficult to navigate the fluctuating energy landscape. Industry-wide levies, the price of wholesale energy, and the type of tariff you are on can all impact your average energy bill cost.

We help customers understand their bills and take steps towards reducing them with transparent information. Keep reading to discover whether your average energy bill costs are higher than others in the UK. 

Energy Price Guarantee Home Energy Prices 2024 By UK Region - Direct Debit Customers

Source: Department for Energy Security & Net Zero

Energy Price Guarantee Home Energy Prices 2024 By UK Region - Pre-Payment Customers

Energy Comparison For Homes

You shouldn’t need to be Scrooge McDuck to fire the heating on at home. We’re here to help you secure an affordable deal. Despite soaring energy prices over the last few years, we’re starting to see some stability in the market. The gloves are finally off, are you ready to fix your energy prices? 

Energy Comparison You Can Trust 

Well, as it says in our name; we have a powerful energy price comparison engine which we have built ourselves. We really focus on customer experience and making the process as easy as possible to find great energy prices and complete your switch online. If you are still unsure if you have found the right match for you, we’re only a phone call away to help you select the right tariff for you. 

We work with some of the UK’s largest and most trusted energy suppliers bringing you some great exclusive deals. 

How to Use Less Energy Before You Compare Energy Prices

Using less energy is the ideal solution for people who want to tackle their energy bills without calling their suppliers. Homeowners and tenants can use more energy than they need without realising it. Here are a few easy tips and tricks to reduce your overall bill.

• Turn off your appliances – We recommend turning off all appliances at the socket when they are not in use. Appliances on standby might not seem like they consume much energy. Over time, standby appliances can add an unnecessary expense to your energy bill. 
• Install a new boiler – If your home has an old or defunct boiler, it could be costing you money. Old boilers need more time than modern alternatives to produce sufficient energy for your home, which means that you use more energy in the long run. 

• Install a smart thermostat – Smart thermostats are perfect for people who want to monitor their average energy bill costs. Smart thermostats allow homeowners to control their energy usage from their phones. You never have to worry about leaving the heating on all day again with this handy piece of energy-saving technology. 

Understanding Your Home Energy Bill

With the average energy bill cost fluctuating every month, more and more people want to better understand their energy consumption. At Power Compare, we exist to compare home energy and explain the confusing jargon that comes with your bill. Here are a few shortcuts that can help you better understand your bill. 

• Tariff name – Tells you what energy tariff you are on. If you need to compare home energy prices and switch suppliers, you will need to know the exact name of your tariff. 
• Total kWh/This cost – This tells you how much electricity you use every year. A kWh is a unit that means kilowatt-hour, a unit of measurement for energy.
• Total units/This cost – This tells you how much gas you use every year. 
• Estimated usage over 12 months – Tells you how much gas and electricity you have used in the last year. It is important to remember that this section is an estimate. If you have not been with your supplier for a year, they will base their estimate on the amount of time that you have been with them.
• Electricity supply number – Tells you your unique Meter Point Administration Number (MPAN). 

Switch Your Energy Supplier 

How Energy Bills Are Calculated

Unit Charge

The unit charge is determined by the tariff you are on, but this is the amount you pay for each kilowatt (kWh) of energy you use. This may be a fixed price or variable each month depending on the tariff you have chosen. 

Standing Charge

The standing charge is determined by the tariff you are on, but this is a fixed amount each day that pays for the energy network costs for supplying energy to you. The standing charge amount varies by tariff as energy supplies often blend this with the unit charge to create more attractive tariffs. Some energy suppliers offer tariffs with no standing charge.

Tariff Comparison Rate

You may see a tariff comparison rate on your bill. This is a rate that is calculated based on the standing charge, unit cost and any discounts so that you can compare the tariff against other tariffs. If you are unhappy with your energy bill and do not seem to be getting is resolved with the supplier, you should contact the Energy Ombudsman.

Energy Calculation

Calculating the amount of energy used is straightforward for electricity when you look at the meter readings as you just deduct the previous reading from the current reading, then add on the standing charge times by the number of days the bill covers, deduct any discounts, and finally add VAT.

Electricity cost = (no. of kWh used x unit charge) + (standing charge x no. of days the bill covers) – any discounts x 5% (VAT)

The gas bill calculation is much harder as the usage needs to be converted into kWh as gas meters operate in volume either cubic meters or feet depending on the age of your meter.

On the bill somewhere will be the standard calculation that the energy supplier uses to calculate the kWh. This may involve converting feet into meters, factoring in a calorific value and converting it to kWh.

Once you have a kWh figure from this calculation is the same as the electricity calculation above, kWh is timed by the unit charge, then add the standing charge times by the number of days the bill covers, and deduct any discounts before VAT is added.

Discounts

Your tariff may offer you discounts for paying by direct debit and/or for paperless billing. These will be applied to your bill before VAT is added. These discount amounts may look different to what you were offered due to the amounts being deducted before VAT when you will have been quoted post-VAT figures. This still offers you the same level of discount.

Personal Projection

Your energy bill may show a personal projection which will show what your energy supplier thinks you will use over the next 12 months. The energy supplier will use this to calculate your direct debits for the next 12 months so if you think it might be wrong you should contact your energy supplier to discuss it.

The personal projection can also be used when comparing energy prices.

Energy Comparison Across a Range of Suppliers

You would be forgiven for thinking that all energy suppliers are pretty much the same. It often appears that way at times but there are plenty of differences to consider. Advocate for reducing your carbon footprint, price-conscious, the need to feel satisfied or digital guru? Each supplier has its different strengths and it is important to do your research before sealing the deal. 

A little bit like a dating website, we’ve put together a little snapshot list of suppliers' best features to help you find your perfect match. 

• Best Customer Service - Ovo Energy
• Best Rated Big Six - EDF Energy
• Largest Energy Supplier - British Gas
• Best Digital/ App  Utilita Energy
• Clear Billing - E Gas and Electricity
• Great Tech Insights - Jellyfish Energy
• Great for Bespoke - Go Power
• Great for Pay As You Go - Boost Power

We’ve powered up our sources to find the best supplier in each category but there are some narrow wins here and other suppliers that offer a better fit for your business. It is always better to take the power into your own hands and compare the latest energy prices. 

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