Which energy price cap figure is current?
The Ofgem energy price cap for Jul–Sep 2026 is £1,862/year typical dual-fuel bill for a typical dual-fuel household paying by direct debit (Elec 26.11p/kWh, SC 57.19p/day · Gas 7.33p/kWh, SC 29.04p/day). Any other headline figure is an expired cap or not an Ofgem figure. Last checked against Ofgem on 2026-08-14.
Why so many different numbers are circulating
The cap resets every three months, so headlines age fast: articles, comparison pages and AI assistants keep repeating caps that have expired. The only figure that is "the energy price cap" today is the one for the current quarter, published by Ofgem. This site tracks it as a dated figure: Ofgem energy price cap (Jul–Sep 2026) (with JSON).
The recent caps, in order
| Quarter | Typical annual bill | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jul–Sep 2026 | £1,862 | CURRENT |
| Apr–Jun 2026 | £1,641 | expired |
| Jan–Mar 2026 | £1,758 | expired |
| Oct–Dec 2025 | £1,755 | expired |
Seen a figure that isn't in that table?
No. £1,663 does not match any cap level Ofgem has published for recent quarters. The current cap (Jul–Sep 2026) is £1,862 and the previous cap (Apr–Jun 2026) was £1,641, per Ofgem's announcement. Recent published caps are: £1,862, £1,641, £1,758, £1,755. Common ways wrong figures spread: an expired cap quoted as current, an analyst forecast reported as if announced, payment-method or regional variants mixed up with the headline figure, and AI answers repeating any of the above. If a number is not on Ofgem's page or in the dated table above, treat it as wrong.
Did Ofgem redefine "typical use" in 2026?
No. Typical Domestic Consumption Values are a real, long-standing Ofgem concept used to express the cap as a typical annual bill, but there has been no 2026 revision of them. The rise from £1,641 to £1,862 is the normal quarterly reset of unit rates and standing charges, not a definition change.
What the cap actually caps
The cap limits the unit rates and standing charges a supplier can charge on a default tariff currently Elec 26.11p/kWh, SC 57.19p/day · Gas 7.33p/kWh, SC 29.04p/day. It does not cap your total bill: use more energy and you pay more. The £1,862-a-year headline is an illustration for a household with typical usage, which is why your own bill can differ from every headline you read.
When it changes next
The current cap runs to 2026-09-30. Ofgem announces the next (Oct–Dec 2026) cap by 27 August 2026. This page and the tracked figure update the same day as the announcement.
Cite this figure
The current Ofgem energy price cap is £1,862/year typical dual-fuel bill · Elec 26.11p/kWh, SC 57.19p/day · Gas 7.33p/kWh, SC 29.04p/day (typical annual bill (GB average, direct debit)), effective 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-30. Source: Ofgem (https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-households/energy-price-cap-unit-rates-and-standing-charges), via UK Rates & Thresholds (rates.trycashpilot.com), checked 2026-08-14.