Skip to content 
Written by: EnergySwitch editorial team · Last reviewed: 23 October 2026
Direct answer: From 1 October to 31 December 2026 the Ofgem price cap is £1,723 a year for a typical dual-fuel household paying by Direct Debit. That uses Ofgem’s 2026 typical usage values: 2,500 kWh of electricity and 9,500 kWh of gas. Ofgem says that, calculated on the old 2023 values (2,700 kWh and 11,500 kWh), the same cap would have been £1,935. Same prices, two different “typical” households. Neither number is what you will pay: your bill depends on how much you actually use, where you live and how you pay.
This guide explains what typical domestic consumption values (TDCVs) are, why Ofgem changed them, and how to turn the cap into a figure for your own home. Current rates for every region are on our energy price cap hub.
What is a typical domestic consumption value?
Ofgem doesn’t cap your total bill. It caps the unit rate (pence per kWh) and the daily standing charge that suppliers can charge on standard variable and default tariffs. To give a headline “annual” figure, it applies those capped rates to a typical household’s yearly use. Those yearly amounts are the TDCVs. Ofgem sets low, medium and high values; the headline cap uses the medium values.
Old and new typical usage values
Ofgem published its decision on 27 May 2026. The new values apply from 1 July 2026. The split for Economy 7 type meters stays at 58% peak and 42% off-peak.
| Meter type | Low (2023 → 2026) | Medium (2023 → 2026) | High (2023 → 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity, single rate | 1,800 → 1,600 kWh | 2,700 → 2,500 kWh | 4,100 → 3,800 kWh |
| Electricity, multi-rate (e.g. Economy 7) | 2,200 → 1,900 kWh | 3,900 → 3,400 kWh | 6,700 → 6,100 kWh |
| Gas | 7,500 → 6,000 kWh | 11,500 → 9,500 kWh | 17,000 → 14,000 kWh |
Ofgem says households now use around 7% less electricity and 17% less gas than at the last review. It links this to better energy efficiency, warmer weather and, more recently, higher prices.
The two headline figures side by side
Ofgem has published both versions for each period since the change. Dual fuel, Direct Debit, GB average, per year:
| Cap period | Using 2026 values (official headline) | Using 2023 values (for reference) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Apr – 30 Jun 2026 | £1,477 | £1,641 |
| 1 Jul – 30 Sep 2026 | £1,663 | £1,862 |
| 1 Oct – 31 Dec 2026 | £1,723 | £1,935 |
Either way the October rise is about 4%. The gap between the columns is the change in assumed usage, not a change in prices. In Ofgem’s words: “Updating the TDCVs will lower the reported ‘typical’ annual bill. This reflects revised assumptions about typical usage rather than a reduction in energy prices.”
Two other things affect October comparisons. VAT on domestic electricity is 0% from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, while gas stays at 5%, and Ofgem says costs can’t be compared directly with earlier periods because of that. Ofgem also says that without the VAT change the October figure would have been around £45 higher. See our guide to VAT off electricity from October 2026.
Did the new values change unit rates?
A little. Ofgem calls TDCV “a presentational tool”, but says “updating it impacts the cap unit rate because suppliers will need to recover certain costs over fewer units of demand.” Some costs in the cap are recovered per unit, so spreading them over fewer assumed kWh nudges the per-unit allowance up. Ofgem’s July letter also says “the change in TDCV itself does not impact consumer bills”: what you pay still depends on your own usage.
How to work out your own figure
Use this for each fuel, with your own annual kWh and your region’s rates:
Annual cost = (annual kWh × unit rate) + (standing charge × 365)
Here is the sum at Ofgem’s GB average Direct Debit rates for October to December 2026: electricity 26.32p/kWh and 54.83p a day, gas 7.97p/kWh and 29.68p a day. These totals are our arithmetic, not Ofgem figures. They assume the rates stay the same for a year, which they won’t: the cap changes every three months.
| 2026 usage level | Electricity | Gas | Dual fuel total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low (1,600 kWh elec, 6,000 kWh gas) | £621 | £587 | £1,208 |
| Medium (2,500 kWh elec, 9,500 kWh gas) | £858 | £865 | £1,724 |
| High (3,800 kWh elec, 14,000 kWh gas) | £1,200 | £1,224 | £2,424 |
The medium row comes to £1,724, against Ofgem’s £1,723, because the published rates are rounded to two decimal places. On the old 2,700 / 11,500 kWh values the same arithmetic gives £1,936, against Ofgem’s £1,935.
Your region’s rates can be quite different from the GB average, especially standing charges. Find yours in our standing charges guide or on the price cap hub. To compare a fixed deal with the capped rates for your own usage, try the fix vs price cap calculator.
Economy 7 and other multi-rate meters
For multi-rate meters the medium value fell from 3,900 to 3,400 kWh. Ofgem’s typical Economy 7 figure (Direct Debit, electricity only) is £1,046 a year for October to December 2026, up from £1,039. The cap limits the day and night rates together, not each one separately, so check both rates on your bill. More in Economy 7 explained.
What this means for you
- Use your own kWh, not the typical figure. Your bill or app shows your annual use.
- Compare like with like. If you see £1,723 and £1,935 quoted, check which usage values each one uses.
- Watch 25 November 2026. Ofgem will announce the January to March 2027 cap by then. Any January figure you see before that is a forecast; see our dated January 2027 forecast tracker.
Want to see whether a fixed tariff beats the cap for your usage? Compare home energy deals
Disclosure: we may earn a commission if you switch through this link. It doesn’t change the price you pay.
New to switching? Read how to switch energy supplier.
FAQ
Which figure is the real price cap: £1,723 or £1,935?
Both describe the same cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026. £1,723 is Ofgem’s official headline, using its 2026 typical usage values (2,500 kWh of electricity and 9,500 kWh of gas a year, Direct Debit, GB average). £1,935 is the figure Ofgem says the same period would show under the old 2023 values (2,700 kWh and 11,500 kWh). Ofgem now uses £1,723.
Did my bill go down because the typical figure dropped?
No. Ofgem says updating typical usage values lowers the reported “typical” bill because it assumes less energy use, not because prices fell. You pay your unit rates for what you actually use, plus a daily standing charge.
What are the new typical domestic consumption values?
From 1 July 2026: electricity single-rate 1,600 / 2,500 / 3,800 kWh (low / medium / high); electricity multi-rate such as Economy 7 1,900 / 3,400 / 6,100 kWh; gas 6,000 / 9,500 / 14,000 kWh. The previous medium values were 2,700 kWh (single-rate), 3,900 kWh (multi-rate) and 11,500 kWh (gas).
Did the change in typical usage affect unit rates at all?
Slightly. Ofgem says TDCV is a presentational tool, but updating it affects the cap unit rate because suppliers need to recover certain costs over fewer units of demand.
How do I work out my own bill under the cap?
Multiply your annual kWh by your region’s unit rate, then add the daily standing charge multiplied by 365. Do this separately for electricity and gas. Your annual kWh is usually shown on your bill or in your supplier app.
When will the typical figure change next?
Ofgem will announce the cap for 1 January to 31 March 2027 by 25 November 2026. That headline will also use the 2026 typical usage values.
Sources
- Ofgem, Energy price cap will rise by 4% from October 2026 (press release) (published 26 August 2026; checked 23 October 2026)
- Ofgem, Summary of changes to energy price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026 (PDF) (26 August 2026; checked 23 October 2026)
- Ofgem, Energy price cap update from 1 July 2026, revised TDCV (PDF) (1 July 2026; checked 23 October 2026)
- Ofgem, Review of typical domestic consumption values: decision (PDF) (27 May 2026; checked 23 October 2026)
- Ofgem, Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges (checked 23 October 2026)
- Ofgem, Changes to energy price cap between 1 October and 31 December 2026 (26 August 2026; checked 23 October 2026)
Figures are Ofgem’s unless marked as our calculation. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. This guide is general information, not financial advice. EnergySwitch is not Ofgem Confidence Code accredited.
