What is the energy price cap?

The energy price cap is set by Ofgem and limits the unit rates and standing charges suppliers in England, Scotland and Wales can charge customers on standard variable tariffs. It is not a cap on total bills.

Ofgem reviews it every three months and announces each new level about five weeks before it starts. Ofgem also gives a "typical household" annual figure, based on average usage, which is the number usually quoted.

Official sources: Ofgem: energy price cap

The latest figure

The newest value is at Ofgem. More on it: Energy price cap (typical household).

When is the next figure out?

Ofgem sets the cap every three months and announces each level before the quarter begins; the level for 1 October to 31 December 2026 was announced on 26 August 2026. No machine-readable feed; unit rates and standing charges by region are on Ofgem's unit rates page

Every official release due in the next two weeks is on the release calendar.

Terms used in this answer

• Low Income Low Energy Efficiency (LILEE)
  The official measure of fuel poverty in England: a household with an energy efficiency rating of band D or below and income below the poverty line after housing and energy costs.
• Cash terms
  A money figure stated at the prices of the time it refers to, with no adjustment for inflation. Also called nominal terms.
• Real terms
  A figure adjusted to remove the effect of inflation, so amounts from different years can be compared by what they would buy rather than their face value.
• Headline figure
  The main summary number that a statistical release leads with, such as annual CPI inflation or quarterly GDP growth. Other measures in the same release can tell a different story.
• Great Britain and the United Kingdom
  Great Britain is England, Scotland and Wales. The United Kingdom is Great Britain plus Northern Ireland. Some statistics cover only one or the other.

Where the figures come from

• Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) energy and emissions statistics, and Ofgem energy price cap data
  Where to find official UK energy prices, fuel prices, electricity generation, greenhouse gas emissions and the Ofgem price cap, and how to check claims.

Related questions

• How is the energy price cap calculated?
• Where can I find official UK fuel prices?
• What are UK greenhouse gas emissions?

This answer says where the official figures are published and how they are defined. It gives no verdict on any claim. To report an error, send a correction request. More questions about energy, transport and emissions: all Energy, transport and emissions questions.