The price cap is the maximum a supplier can charge per unit and per day. It changes every three months, which is why most running-cost figures you read elsewhere are arithmetic on a rate that no longer exists.
What changes on 1 October
| 1 July to 30 September 2026 | 1 October to 31 December 2026 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity unit rate | 26.11p | 26.32p | ↑ +0.8% |
| Electricity standing charge | 57.19p | 54.83p | ↓ -4.1% |
| Gas unit rate | 7.33p | 7.97p | ↑ +8.7% |
| Gas standing charge | 29.04p | 29.68p | ↑ +2.2% |
The headline is gas. The gas unit rate rises 8.7 per cent, while the electricity standing charge actually falls. If you heat with gas, your winter is more expensive than the small change in the electricity rate suggests.
Ofgem publishes the annual figure for a typical household. The 1 October to 31 December 2026 cap is GBP1,723, which Ofgem states is 4 per cent above the previous period.
Why your rate is probably not this one
These are the England, Scotland and Wales averages for people paying by Direct Debit. Your actual rate differs by region, by how you pay, and by meter type. Prepayment and standard credit are priced differently, and Economy 7 has two rates rather than one.
That is the whole reason this site gives you a calculator instead of a single number. Take the rate off your own bill and the answer becomes yours rather than an average.
Source: Ofgem, energy price cap unit rates and standing charges, read 15 September 2026. When the cap next moves this page gains a period rather than losing one, so the record stays honest.