Are your gas and electricity bills higher than average? How to save with smart heating devices
No-one wants to pay more than they need to on heating their home. Knowing the average energy prices can help you understand where your bills fit in, as well as seeing how you can make potential savings too.
How much is the average energy bill in the UK?
Several factors will influence your energy bill, and different types of homes have different heating requirements. The size and type of your property is of course a factor - a larger one will need more heating, and a detached house could well need more than a terraced one or a flat. The number of people in your household will also make a difference.
According to Ofgem figures, the average British household has 2.4 people living in it and uses 2,900 kWh of electricity and 12,000 kWh of gas per year. Per month, that’s 242 kWh of electricity and 1,000 kWh of gas. These figures assume that you use a mix of gas of electricity, so if you don’t use gas then you’d expect your electricity consumption to be higher.
Of course, this is just the average based on homes with 2-3 people living in them. Your usage might be lower or higher if your household is smaller or larger.
Average electricity bills
Electricity usage: Low (Flat or 1-bedroom house / 1-2 people)
Average annual consumption by kilowatt hour (kWh): 1,800 kWh
Average annual cost (inc. standing charge)*: £675.65
Average monthly cost (inc. standing charge)*: £56.31
Electricity usage: Medium (3-bedroom house / 2-3 people)
Average annual consumption by kilowatt hour (kWh): 2,900 kWh
Average annual cost (inc. standing charge)*: £987.42
Average monthly cost (inc. standing charge)*: £82.29
Electricity usage: High (5-bedroom house / 4-5 people)
Average annual consumption by kilowatt hour (kWh): 4,300 kWh
Average annual cost (inc. standing charge)*: £1384.21
Average monthly cost (inc. standing charge)*: £115.36
*Based on an average electricity unit rate of 28.34p per kilowatt hour (p/kWh) plus standing charge of 45.34p per day.
Average gas bills
Gas usage: Low (Flat or 1-bedroom house / 1-2 people)
Average annual consumption by kilowatt hour (kWh): 8,000 kWh
Average annual cost (inc. standing charge)*: £688.55
Average monthly cost (inc. standing charge)*: £57.38
Gas usage: Medium (3-bedroom house / 2-3 people)
Average annual consumption by kilowatt hour (kWh): 12,000 kWh
Average annual cost (inc. standing charge)*: £983.15
Average monthly cost (inc. standing charge)*: £81.93
Gas usage: High (5-bedroom house / 4-5 people)
Average annual consumption by kilowatt hour (kWh): 17,000 kWh
Average annual cost (inc. standing charge)*: £1351.40
Average monthly cost (inc. standing charge)*: £112.62
*Based on an average gas unit rate of 7.37p per kilowatt hour (p/kWh) plus standing charge of 27.22p per day.
Smart home devices – the best way to save money
However your current bills compare to the UK average, the good news is that you can lower them with smart home devices. With our smart thermostats and our smart radiator valves, you can control every aspect of your heating simply by tapping the app or using your voice-activated device, so that each room in your home is always as warm as you want it to be – without ever wasting money or energy by heating an empty home.
Save even more with Hive Heating Plus
Already installed a Hive thermostat? You can lower your bills and increase your energy efficiency even further with Hive Heating Plus, the innovative subscription service that works in tandem with Hive thermostats to give you personalised advice from Hive that could save you an extra £10 a month during cold months.
See more, spend less with the Heating Budget Tracker
The Heating Budget Tracker and Heating History show you exactly how much you’re spending and break down what’s driving that spend. It then uses that info to give you personalised money-saving recommendations, taking the guesswork out of saving.
How to track and keep your heating efficient.
Our Heating Efficiency Monitor tracks your home 24/7 to understand how efficiently it’s warming up and lets you know via the Hive app or text if it notices anything out of the ordinary. This means you know of any problems like a build-up of sludge in your radiator straight away, so you can get things fixed quickly before they become serious.
Top saving tips for energy and extra discount
Hive Heating Plus even integrates weather data. If a cold snap is forecast, the Integrated Weather feature will let you know and give you tips on how best to prepare and deal with it, suggesting the best heating schedule for your home.
Subscribers also get an extended warranty on our smart heating devices, as well as a 10% discount on our products and home repairs by Local Heroes.
*These figures are based on a customer with Ofgem typical domestic usage, paying by direct debit on a default tariff covered by the Ofgem price cap rates of 28.34p per kWh plus standing charge of 45.34p per day for electricity and 7.37p per kWh plus standing charge of 27.22p for gas. Rates and standing charges are averages and will vary by region, payment method and meter type. These rates are effective from 1 April 2022. You could be paying more or less for your energy per kWh and your standing charge could be different if you’re on a fixed rate tariff.
