Level of the energy price cap

Here you can view the price cap level we have set for suppliers to apply. Your energy bill isn’t capped – this will vary depending on how much energy you use. The cap applies to the price your supplier charges for each unit (kWh) of electricity and gas used, and your standing charge.

It's best to contact your supplier for your specific tariff price details. You can find their contact details on a recent bill, or see find my supplier.

If suppliers raise their prices, they must write to inform you before a new price applies, and ensure you have enough time to consider your options and switch away if you want to.

Current price cap level

Energy price cap level: 1 October 2020 to 31 March 2021

We announce the updated cap level twice a year in February and August, to reflect the price cap level that will come into effect in April and October. You can subscribe to our Alerts & Briefings e-newsletter to be notified each time we update the price cap.

Breakdown of the energy price cap

Click a chart to view the different cost factors behind the set cap level by payment method. The charts show an indicative example of a cap level for a customer using a typical amount of energy.

Chart

Javascript is required to render chart Breakdown of the default tariff price cap (GBP £, direct debit).

Source: Ofgem.

Information correct as of: October 2020

Chart Link

Link to chart

This chart shows a breakdown of the costs that make up the default tariff price cap for a dual-fuel, direct debit customer with typical consumption. It helps to explain the relationship between the level of the cap we set, and the different cost factors that influence it each time we update it.

The default tariff cap is effective from 1 January 2019. It has different levels set to reflect how you pay, where you live and the type of energy meter you have. For a detailed breakdown of the set cap prices by payment method, meter type and region, please see our industry page. Customers should contact their supplier for details specific to their tariff.

The default tariff price cap limits how much a supplier can charge customers on default tariffs, including standard variable tariffs, per unit of energy. It doesn’t cap the total cost of a bill. That’s because the amount customers pay also depends on how much gas or electricity they’ve used. Suppliers can charge less than the set level of the cap, but not more.

We update this chart to reflect the levels of the cap that come into effect in April and October.

As of April 2020, all the costs shown in this chart are calculated using the latest Typical Domestic Consumption Values (TDCV) that entered into effect from 1st April 2020 (see more methodology section for more details).

In practical terms, this means that previous publications on the level and costs of the cap will not be exactly the same.

Click the ‘more information’ tab above for a summary of the latest trends, details of how to interpret the component costs and allowances, and for information on our methodology.

Policy Areas:

Domestic consumers
Electricity - retail markets
Gas - retail markets

Data Table

Breakdown of the default tariff price cap (GBP £, direct debit)
	Wholesale costs	Adjustment allowance	Network costs	Policy costs	Operating costs	Earnings Before Interest & Taxes (EBIT)	VAT	Direct debit payment method uplift allowance	Headroom allowance
2018/19 winter	434	0	250	130	195	20	53	11	12
2019 summer	505	0	262	144	201	22	58	12	13
2019/20 winter	432	0	264	146	203	20	54	12	12
2020 summer	395	0	265	160	209	20	54	12	12
2020/21 winter	307	15	265	162	203	19	50	11	11

More information

At-a-glance summary

The level of the tariff cap is based on the underlying costs required to supply energy. It applies from 1 January 2019.
We publish the level of the price cap in February and August to apply on 1 April and 1 October respectively each year.
The tariff level will reflect changes in the costs to supply energy. We determine how much each independent component of the cap should change by looking at external cost data. Details of the latest update can be found here - Default tariff cap: 1st October 2020 to 31st March 2021.

Relevance and further information

This chart summarises the different costs that make up the default tariff price cap.

We update the level of the cap every six months, either reflecting changes in underlying costs, or increases in inflation. Our calculations cover:

wholesale energy costs: how much a supplier has to pay to get the gas and electricity to supply households with energy (we base this on forward prices for energy to be delivered over a 12-month period)
adjustment allowance: an allowance covering any adjustments to the default tariff cap. For cap period five this includes the wholesale adjustment reflecting our reassessment of the wholesale allowance in the first default tariff cap period (adjustment only applies to the six-month winter 20/21 cap period).
network costs: the regional costs of building, maintaining and operating the pipes and wires that carry energy across the country to households
policy costs: the costs related to government social and environmental schemes to save energy, reduce emissions and encourage take-up of renewable energy
operating costs: the costs incurred by suppliers to deliver billing and metering services, including smart metering
direct debit payment method uplift allowance: the additional costs incurred by suppliers to bill customers with direct debit as their payment method
headroom allowance: this allows suppliers to manage uncertainty in their costs, and also offer competitive deals beneath the set level of the cap.
Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT): a fair rate of return allowed for suppliers, to ensure they can finance their businesses.
VAT: 5% tax added to the level of the tariff.

Methodology

The level of the cap is based on calculations of the costs required for an efficient supplier to provide energy. It also includes some additional allowances to manage uncertainty, and ensure suppliers can finance their activities, amongst other things.
We calculate the bill values associated with the different tariff types using a ‘typical domestic consumer’ with ‘medium’ energy use. Since April 2020, typical consumption values for a medium consumer are 12,000kWh/year for gas and 2,900kWh/year for electricity (profile class 1). Find out more at Typical domestic consumption values.
All prices shown are for a dual fuel customer paying by direct debit (i.e. where a customer takes gas and electricity from the same supplier).
Further details of the methodology for calculating the level of the Default Tariff can be found in our statutory consultation on the default tariff cap and decision documents.
For a detailed breakdown of the cap by meter type and region, please see our page for the latest level for 1st October 2020 to 31st March 2021.

Chart

Javascript is required to render chart Breakdown of the default tariff price cap (GBP £, prepayment).

Source: Ofgem analysis.

Information correct as of: October 2020

Chart Link

Link to chart

This chart shows a breakdown of the costs that make up the prepayment meter price cap level. The CMA Prepayment Meter Price Cap is displayed in the chart from when it came into force on 1 April 2017 until it expired on 31 December 2020. In August 2020, Ofgem announced that the Default Tariff Cap would continue to protect default prepayment meter customers after the CMA Prepayment Meter Price Cap expires. For Winter 2020/21, the values of the CMA Prepayment Meter Price Cap and the new prepayment cap level within the Default Tariff Cap are the same. The chart helps to explain the relationship between the prepayment meter price cap level we set, and the different cost factors that influence it each time we update it. We update this chart to reflect the prepayment price cap level that come into effect in April and October each year.

The prepayment meter price cap level within the Default Tariff Price Cap limits how much a supplier can charge prepayment meter customers on default tariffs, including standard variable tariffs, per unit of energy. It doesn’t cap the total cost of a bill. That’s because the amount customers pay also depends on how much gas or electricity they’ve used. Suppliers can charge less than the set level of the cap, but not more.

In practical terms, this means that previous publications on the level and costs of the cap will not be exactly the same.

Click the ‘more information’ tab above for a summary of the latest trends, details of how to interpret the component costs and allowances, and for information on our methodology.

Note *: Following a change in methodology the values for 2019/20 winter onwards are not directly comparable to previous periods.

**: The change in methodology has made it possible to identify EBIT as a cost component distinct from the headroom allowance as in previous periods.

***: Following the expiry of the CMA Prepayment Meter Price Cap, the labelling of the cost components have been standardised in line with the Default Tariff Price Cap labelling to reflect the new prepayment meter price cap level within the Default Tariff Cap, however the levels are still comparable.

Policy Areas:

Electricity - retail markets
Gas - retail markets

Data Table

Breakdown of the default tariff price cap (GBP £, prepayment)
	Wholesale costs	Network costs	Policy costs	Operating costs***	Prepayment payment method uplift allowance***	EBIT**	Headroom allowance	VAT
2017 summer	350	248	121	163	64		27	49
2017/18 winter	342	249	109	165	65		26	48
2018 summer	367	249	131	168	66		28	50
2018/19 winter	409	249	130	169	67		30	53
2019 summer	479	262	139	171	67		33	58
2019/20 winter*	432	264	146	183	68	21	12	56
2020 summer*	395	265	160	187	68	21	12	55
2020/21 winter*	307	265	162	186	68	19	11	51

More information

At-a-glance summary

We update the prepayment price cap level on 1 April and 1 October each year.
In August 2020, Ofgem announced that the Default Tariff Cap would continue to protect default prepayment meter customers after the CMA Prepayment Meter Price Cap expires at the end of 2020.
The tariff level will reflect changes in the costs of supplying energy. We determine how much each independent component of the cap should change by looking at external cost data. Details of the latest update can be found here - Prepayment meter cap level: 1st October 2020 to 31st March 2021.

Relevance and further information

This chart summarises the different costs that make up the prepayment meter price cap level.

The Competition and Markets Authority introduced the price protection of a price cap to prepayment meter customers, who can’t easily access the cheapest tariffs, in April 2017. These customers are often in vulnerable circumstances. They designed the tariff based on a broad estimate of how much it costs an efficient supplier to provide gas and/or electricity to certain groups of customers. This is due to expire on 31 December 2020.

In July 2019, the CMA revised the methodology to better reflect the costs incurred in delivering energy services to prepayment customers. From 1 October 2019, the prepayment meter price cap methodology aligns more closely with our methodology for the default tariff price cap.

In August 2020, Ofgem announced that the Default Tariff Cap would continue to protect default prepayment meter customers after the CMA Prepayment Meter Price Cap expires at the end of 2020.

The Default Tariff Cap for the period 1 October 2020 to 31 March 2021 includes a new prepayment meter price cap level, which will protect PPM customers with default tariffs once the CMA Prepayment Meter Price Cap expires on 31 December 2020.

We update the level of the cap every six months, either reflecting changes in underlying costs, or increases in inflation. Our calculations for the Default Tariff Cap cover:

wholesale energy costs: how much a supplier has to pay to get the gas and electricity to supply households with energy (we base this on forward prices for energy to be delivered over a 12-month period)
adjustment allowance: an allowance covering any adjustments to the default tariff cap. For cap period five this includes the wholesale adjustment reflecting our reassessment of the wholesale allowance in the first default tariff cap period (adjustment only applies to the six-month winter 20/21 cap period).
network costs: the regional costs of building, maintaining and operating the pipes and wires that carry energy across the country to households
policy costs: the costs related to government social and environmental schemes to save energy, reduce emissions and encourage take-up of renewable energy
operating costs: the costs incurred by suppliers to deliver billing and metering services, including smart metering
prepayment meter payment method uplift allowance: the additional costs incurred by suppliers to bill customers with prepayment meter as their payment method
headroom allowance: this allows suppliers to manage uncertainty in their costs, and also offer competitive deals beneath the set level of the cap.
Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT): a fair rate of return allowed for suppliers, to ensure they can finance their businesses.

VAT: 5% tax added to the level of the tariff.

Methodology

The level of the cap is based on calculations of wholesale costs, network costs, policy costs, operating costs and costs specifically associated with prepayment meters. It also includes a degree of ‘headroom’, which is designed to allow suppliers to offer competitive deals underneath the level we set for the prepayment price cap.
We calculate the bill values associated with the different tariff types using a ‘typical domestic consumer’ with ‘medium’ energy use. Since April 2020, typical consumption values for a medium consumer are 12,000kWh/year for gas and 2,900kWh/year for electricity (profile class 1). Find out more at Typical domestic consumption values.
All prices shown are for a dual fuel customer (i.e. where a customer takes gas and electricity from the same supplier).
Further details of the methodology for calculating the level of the Default Tariff can be found in our statutory consultation on the default tariff cap and decision documents. Further details on the decision to include a new prepayment meter cap level within the Default Tariff Cap can be found in this decision document.
For a detailed breakdown of the cap by meter type and region, please see our page for the latest level for 1st October 2020 to 31st March 2021.

Chart

Javascript is required to render chart Breakdown of the default tariff price cap (GBP £, standard credit).

Source: Ofgem.

Information correct as of: October 2020

Chart Link

Link to chart

This chart shows a breakdown of the costs that make up the default tariff price cap for a dual-fuel, standard credit customer with typical consumption. It helps to explain the relationship between the level of the cap we set, and the different cost factors that influence it each time we update it. The cap for the standard credit payment method is higher than that of pre-payment and direct debit, because it costs more for suppliers to serve these customers.

We update this chart to reflect the levels of the cap that come into effect in April and October.

In practical terms, this means that previous publications on the level and costs of the cap will not be exactly the same.

Click the ‘more information’ tab above for a summary of the latest trends, details of how to interpret the component costs and allowances, and for information on our methodology.

Policy Areas:

Domestic consumers
Electricity - retail markets
Gas - retail markets

Data Table

Breakdown of the default tariff price cap (GBP £, standard credit)
	Wholesale costs	Adjustment allowance	Policy costs	Network costs	Operating costs	Standard credit payment method uplift allowance	Earnings Before Interest & Taxes (EBIT)	Headroom allowance	VAT
2018/2019 winter	434	0	130	250	195	87	21	13	56
2019 summer	505	0	144	262	201	93	23	14	62
2019/20 winter	432	0	146	264	203	89	22	13	58
2020 summer	395	0	160	265	209	88	22	13	58
2020/21 winter	307	15	162	265	203	84	20	12	53

More Information

At-a-glance summary

The level of the tariff cap is based on the underlying costs required to supply energy. It applies from 1 January 2019. We publish the level of the price cap in February and August to apply on 1 April and 1 October respectively each year. The tariff level will reflect changes in the costs to supply energy. We determine how much each independent component of the cap should change by looking at external cost data. Details of the latest update can be found here - Default tariff cap: 1st October 2020 to 31st March 2021.

Relevance and further information

This chart summarises the different costs that make up the default tariff price cap.

We update the level of the cap every six months, either reflecting changes in underlying costs, or increases in inflation. Our calculations cover:

wholesale energy costs: how much a supplier has to pay to get the gas and electricity to supply households with energy (we base this on forward prices for energy to be delivered over a 12-month period)
adjustment allowance: an allowance covering any adjustments to the default tariff cap. For cap period five this includes the wholesale adjustment reflecting our reassessment of the wholesale allowance in the first default tariff cap period (adjustment only applies to the six-month winter 20/21 cap period)
network costs: the regional costs of building, maintaining and operating the pipes and wires that carry energy across the country to households
policy costs: the costs related to government social and environmental schemes to save energy, reduce emissions and encourage take-up of renewable energy
operating costs: the costs incurred by suppliers to deliver billing and metering services, including smart metering
standard credit payment method uplift allowance: the additional costs incurred by suppliers to bill customers with standard credit as their payment method
headroom allowance: this allows suppliers to manage uncertainty in their costs, and also offer competitive deals beneath the set level of the cap.
Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT): a fair rate of return allowed for suppliers, to ensure they can finance their businesses.
VAT: 5% tax added to the level of the tariff.

Methodology

The level of the cap is based on calculations of the costs required for an efficient supplier to provide energy. It also includes some additional allowances to manage uncertainty, and ensure suppliers can finance their activities, amongst other things.
We calculate the bill values associated with the different tariff types using a ‘typical domestic consumer’ with ‘medium’ energy use. Since April 2020, typical consumption values for a medium consumer are 12,000kWh/year for gas and 2,900kWh/year for electricity (profile class 1). Find out more at Typical domestic consumption values.
All prices shown are for a dual fuel customer paying by standard credit (i.e. where a customer takes gas and electricity from the same supplier).
Further details of the methodology for calculating the level of the Default Tariff can be found in our statutory consultation on the default tariff cap and decision documents.
For a detailed breakdown of the cap by meter type and region, please see our page for the latest level for 1st October 2020 to 31st March 2021.