What is the Average Gas & Electricity Usage for UK Households in 2021

When looking to compare energy prices, knowing how your home energy usage levels differ to the UK average can be very important. There a number of variables to take in to consideration such as the type of property you live in and also the type of meter you have e.g. Economy 7, prepayment meter etc.

The average energy usage figures are produced and controlled by Ofgem - the UK's energy regulator, who consults with industry bodies to review what they call 'Typical Domestic Consumption Values' (TDCVs) every 2-years. This is to ensure they stay on top of trends and changes in energy consumption as technology, our lifestyle and therefore energy needs change.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, and the impact this had to domestic energy usage, the decision was made by Ofgem (the energy regulator) on 19th April 2021 to delay any planned changes to the TDCVs. An update is due to be announced in June 2021.

What is the Average Gas Usage in the UK?

The table below shows the average gas usage in the UK from the 1st April 2020:

This remains unchanged from Ofgem's Typical Domestic Consumption Values (TDCVs) imposed back in 2017 suggesting as a nation our gas usage habits are unchanged.

What is the Average Electricity Usage in the UK?

The table below shows the average electricity usage in the UK from 1st April 2020:

Compared to the data last used, this shows some significant changes in our electricity usage.

Based on this information, and how the energy industry determines the "average energy bill", they use the TDCVs shown for a "medium" user meaning from the 1st April 2020 they are basing their calculations off a UK home that uses 12,000kwh Gas and 2,900kwh Electric each year. If this isn't aligned to your own energy consumption, then any potential savings or estimated annual bills could be way off the mark hence the need to ensure you have an accurate view of your energy consumption as shown on your latest energy bill. Historically, this information has furthermore been impacted by inaccurate energy bills where energy suppliers relied heavily on estimated bills based on past readings. This is problematic given the changes we can go through in our home energy use such as children leaving home to go to university or having a baby - both of which can have a significant impact on any homes energy usage. However, with the roll-out of Smart Meters now fully in operation, this is starting to change the landscape and ensure consumers, and energy suppliers alike, are fed with more accurate energy data.

Once we have this information to hand, we can run an accurate energy price comparison to see how much our energy costs will be. Any Ofgem-accredited price comparison website will take your gas consumption and electricity consumption and calculate that using the unit rates of your existing energy tariff and compare it against all other energy tariffs available to you to then generate a view of your potential energy savings. If you've never switched, brace yourself as these can be significant savings!

Our energy usage is messaged in Kilowatt Hours (Kwhs). If you're looking for this information to save money and switch your gas and electricity supplier to find a cheaper energy deal, then it is strongly advised that you use an "annual usage" figure which will be printed on your latest energy bill. The reason for this is that our energy usage varies throughout the year i.e. longer days and warmer weather in the summer mean we don't use as much electricity through our lights or gas through our heating systems.

The latest figures for the average usage levels in the UK are next due to change from 1st April 2020 with the only variations being a change to the our electricity bill usage dropping from 3,100kwh a year to 2,900kwh a year (a 6.5% reduction) for medium users.

Let's take a closer look in to the detail as to exactly what the average energy usage looks like based on a low, medium and high user. This banding simply applies to the type of energy user you might be which can vary depending on people living in an apartment (low user), semi-detached house (medium user) or detached house (high user). But again, this isn't an exact science and can very much depend on the energy habits of that UK household. For example, if you have a teenage son/daughter running a bitcoin mining operation from their bedroom in a small flat, the electricity usage could very much be deemed as "high".

How do you know what your energy usage is?

The best way to determine this is to find a copy of your latest energy bill(s) and look for information mentioning your "Estimated Annual Usage". If you are with different energy suppliers for your gas and electricity, then you will need to find a copy of both bills. If you are a dual fuel energy customer i.e. you are with one supplier for both your gas and electricity, then this will be broken down for each fuel on your latest energy bill.

If you have recently moved home and don't know what your annual/yearly usage will be, then here is a quick property guide to help you get started: (NOTE: This is a guide only so if you proceed with this your actual bills may vary so please monitor closely and speak to your supplier directly to adjust your monthly payments if necessary).

So there you have it. The UK average energy usage from 1st April 2020 is 12,000kwh Gas and 2,900kwh Electricity. Feel free to bookmark this page and check back in future to see how the average UK households energy usage has changed.

What is the Average UK Household Energy Bill?

The table below shows the average UK household energy bill on a standard tariff:

Finally this table shows the average UK household energy bill on a fixed rate tariff:

Remember, when starting an energy comparison, always use your gas and electricity usage in kWh for the most accurate of results.