Did you know the energy price per kWh in the UK varies from region to region? Discover why there’s no universal UK kWh price for your gas and electricity, and what influences the cost according to where you live.
Why do energy prices vary by region?
The price you pay for your energy depends on where you live because there are several local factors in play when calculating the costs of energy. They include:
- The number of customers in your region: This affects the wholesale costs. The fewer customers there are in a region, the fewer households there are to share the fixed cost of distributing, which drives up cost. The more customers there are, the easier it is for suppliers to negotiate bigger discounts when they buy energy in bulk.
- The region’s energy usage: Climate plays a big role in how much energy is consumed in different parts of the UK. More northerly regions use more electricity in winter to heat their homes, which influences the price of energy.
- Transport charges: Energy is delivered to your home via a series of transmission and distribution networks. These are operated by different companies who charge different amounts depending on where they’re based.
- Local generator costs: Some suppliers buy energy from locally based suppliers, such as gas-powered plants and large-scale solar and wind farms. These prices may be fixed in advance based on historic prices as well as estimated usage. If prices drop, or demand is higher than expected, it can affect prices at a local level.
These regional variations are reflected in Ofgem’s energy price cap. This sets a limit on how much your supplier can charge you for gas and electricity. Instead of charging a single flat rate for the whole UK, Ofgem sets different caps for different parts of the country.
How are energy prices set?
The price you pay for your energy is determined by several factors:
- Wholesale costs: The actual cost of the energy produced makes up around 39%-40% of the total cost of supplying energy to your home.
- Network costs: The second-largest cost is that of transporting the energy to your region and home.
- Operating costs: Your supplier’s running costs.
- VAT: Domestic customers currently pay 5% VAT on gas and electricity.
- Markup: The amount added by the supplier to allow it to make a profit.
- Cost of government schemes: These include the costs of various social and environmental schemes.
- Other: Includes small costs like smart meter installations and maintenance.
How much is electricity per kWh by region?
The regional cost of electricity per kWh shown below comes from Ofgem’s July price cap. The prices shown are based on a household on a standard variable rate paying by Direct Debit, and include VAT.
| Region | Single rate electric cost per kWh (1 July to 30 September 2026) |
|---|---|
| UK average | 26.11 pence per kWh |
| London | 26.35 p/kWh |
| South East | 26.67 p/kWh |
| Southern | 26.42 p/kWh |
| South Western | 26.39 p/kWh |
| South Wales | 26.33 p/kWh |
| Midlands | 25.33 p/kWh |
| North Wales and Mersey | 27.66 p/kWh |
| North West | 26.13 p/kWh |
| Southern Scotland | 25.85 p/kWh |
| Northern Scotland | 26.42 p/kWh |
| Northern | 25.22 p/kWh |
| Yorkshire | 25.31 p/kWh |
| East Midlands | 25.10 p/kWh |
| Eastern | 26.38 p/kWh |
What is the cost of gas per kWh by region?
Again, the figures below are based on Ofgem’s July 2026 energy price cap based on a standard variable tariff, paid for by Direct Debit, and VAT is included.
| Region | Gas cost per kWh |
|---|---|
| UK average | 7.33 pence per kWh |
| London | 7.50 p/kWh |
| South East | 7.39 p/kWh |
| Southern | 7.53 p/kWh |
| South Western | 7.48 p/kWh |
| South Wales | 7.42 p/kWh |
| Midlands | 7.27 p/kWh |
| North Wales and Mersey | 7.28 p/kWh |
| North West | 7.24 p/kWh |
| Southern Scotland | 7.23 p/kWh |
| Northern Scotland | 7.23 p/kWh |
| Northern | 7.28 p/kWh |
| Yorkshire | 7.27 p/kWh |
| East Midlands | 7.19 p/kWh |
| Eastern | 7.26 p/kWh |
How much are regional electricity standing charges?
The following figures are based on Ofgem’s July 2026 energy price cap for standard variable tariffs, paid for by Direct Debit, with VAT included.
| Region | Single rate electricity daily standing charge |
|---|---|
| UK average | 57.19 pence per day |
| London | 44.78p |
| South East | 54.45p |
| Southern | 49.70p |
| South Western | 57.89p |
| South Wales | 57.84p |
| Midlands | 59.71p |
| North Wales and Mersey | 70.76p |
| North West | 47.61p |
| Southern Scotland | 64.17p |
| Northern Scotland | 57.55p |
| Northern | 64.29p |
| Yorkshire | 64.38p |
| East Midlands | 53.60p |
| Eastern | 53.94p |
How much are regional gas standing charges?
From 1 July to 30 September 2026, gas standing charges for the regions of the UK are:
| Region | Gas daily standing charges |
|---|---|
| UK average | 29.04 pence per day |
| London | 29.52p |
| South East | 28.63p |
| Southern | 28.53p |
| South Western | 28.68p |
| South Wales | 29.30p |
| Midlands | 29.06p |
| North Wales and Mersey | 29.42p |
| North West | 29.17p |
| Southern Scotland | 29.24p |
| Northern Scotland | 29.22p |
| Northern | 29.15p |
| Yorkshire | 29.12p |
| East Midlands | 28.78p |
| Eastern | 28.70p |
Which region is the most expensive for electricity?
North Wales and Mersey is currently the most expensive region for electricity - its unit price currently tops 27.66p per kWh with a standing charge of nearly 70.76p per day. It's a lot cheaper when it comes to gas prices.
The following table gives a breakdown of both the cheapest and most expensive regions per metric:
| Metric | Most expensive regions | Cheapest regions |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity unit costs (per kWh) | North Wales and Mersey (27.66 p/kWh) | East Midlands (25.10 p/kWh) |
| Electricity standing charge (per day) | North Wales and Mersey (70.76 p/day) | London (44.78 p/day) |
| Gas unit costs (per kWh) | Southern (7.53 p/kWh) | East Midlands (7.19 p/kWh) |
| Gas standing charge (per day) | London (29.52 p/day) | Southern (28.53 p/day) |
All prices include VAT and are based on Ofgem’s price cap from July to September 2026 for payments by Direct Debit.
Why are energy prices so high?
UK energy prices are governed by the price of gas, which is also used to determine the wholesale price of electricity. While prices continue to fall from the highs experienced in 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, they are still higher than pre-pandemic levels. Find out more with our gas and electricity prices forecast for 2026.
How do energy costs differ by payment method?
Ofgem sets different price caps for those paying by Direct Debit, those paying on standard credit, and those paying through a prepayment meter. While Direct Debt has traditionally been the cheapest way to pay for energy, that’s no longer the case as of June 2026. Currently, those on prepayment meters pay less for both gas and electricity.
How can I keep energy bills down?
There are many ways you can keep your energy bills lows, including cutting your consumption. Another way to cut your bills is to compare energy suppliers and tariffs to find the best deal.
cookie usage