In April 2025, electricity prices in the United Kingdom amounted to **** British pounds per megawatt-hour, a decrease from the previous month. A record high was reached in August 2022 when day-ahead baseload contracts averaged ***** British pounds per megawatt-hour.
Electricity price stabilization in Europe Electricity prices increased in 2024 compared to the previous year, when prices stabilized after the energy supply shortage. Price spikes were driven by the growing wholesale prices of natural gas and coal worldwide, which are among the main sources of power in the region.

… and in the United Kingdom? The United Kingdom was one of the countries with the highest electricity prices worldwide during the energy crisis. Since then, prices have been stabilizing, almost to pre-energy crisis levels. The use of nuclear, wind, and bioenergy for electricity generation has been increasing recently. The fuel types are an alternative to fossil fuels and are part of the country's power generation plans going into the future.

UK Electricity decreased 30.95 GBP/MWh or 30.21% since the beginning of 2025, according to the latest spot benchmarks offered by sellers to buyers priced in megawatt hour (MWh). This dataset includes a chart with historical data for the United Kingdom Electricity Price.

Non-domestic consumers with consumption between *** megawatt-hours and ***** megawatt-hours tended to pay higher electricity prices than those users with consumption greater than ****** megawatt-hours. As of 2023, electricity prices for these consumers amounted to ***** pence per kilowatt-hour and ***** pence per kilowatt-hour, respectively. Generally, for both consumption rates, electricity prices presented a trend of growth with a peak in 2023.

Daily data showing the System Price of electricity, and rolling seven-day average, in Great Britain. These are official statistics in development. Source: Elexon.

Residential electricity prices in the United Kingdom amounted to 0.35 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour in March 2024, a decrease in electricity prices for households in the UK from the previous year.

A comparative table of weekly UK wholesale market prices across key energy commodities, including gas, electricity, coal, EUA carbon, UKA carbon, and Brent crude oil. The table includes current, previous, and year-on-year values for both day-ahead and year-ahead contracts, as well as 12-month highs and lows.

Household electricity prices in the United Kingdom averaged 22.03 euro cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in the first half of 2020. Over the past decade, household electricity prices have seen an overall increase, peaking at 22.10 euro cents per kWh in the second half of 2019. On average, the UK pays some of the highest electricity prices in Europe. Annual electricity billsIn 2019, the average annual domestic electricity bill for those with an electricity consumption of up to 3,800 kWh was 608 British pounds. In comparison, those with a consumption of 6,000 kWh paid 837 British pounds. Payment methods also affect electricity bills, with consumers who used prepayment paying the least. In 1970, the overall expenditure on electricity by all end users in the UK amounted to 1.5 billion British pounds. This increased significantly in the following decades and amounted to nearly 38 billion pounds by 2018.

Ireland, Italy, and Germany had some of the highest household electricity prices worldwide, as of March 2025. At the time, Irish households were charged around 0.45 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour, while in Italy, the price stood at 0.43 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour. By comparison, in Russia, residents paid almost 10 times less. What is behind electricity prices? Electricity prices vary widely across the world and sometimes even within a country itself, depending on factors like infrastructure, geography, and politically determined taxes and levies. For example, in Denmark, Belgium, and Sweden, taxes constitute a significant portion of residential end-user electricity prices. Reliance on fossil fuel imports Meanwhile, thanks to their great crude oil and natural gas production output, countries like Iran, Qatar, and Russia enjoy some of the cheapest electricity prices in the world. Here, the average household pays less than 0.1 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour. In contrast, countries heavily reliant on fossil fuel imports for electricity generation are more vulnerable to market price fluctuations.

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The average annual domestic electricity bill in the United Kingdom saw an overall increase from 2014 to 2024 and boomed in 2023. In this period, households with an annual consumption of ***** kilowatt-hours saw bills rise from *** to ***** British pounds, including value-added tax. The household expenditure on electricity in the UK amounted to approximately **** billion current British pounds in 2023. Direct debit payments consistently cheaper In the period under consideration, the annual bill for an electricity consumption of ***** kilowatt-hours was consistently more expensive for consumers using standard credit as a method of payment, averaging ***** real British pounds in 2024. From 2016 onwards, consumers using the prepayment method paid less than standard credit consumers and, in 2022, their bill was the least expensive, at *** real British pounds. Electricity prices on the rise Household electricity prices in the UK have doubled in the past decade for both consumer groups. Despite the UK government setting a tariff cap to protect consumers, the UK’s power market was greatly impacted by the global energy crisis. In August 2022, electricity prices in Great Britain peaked at *** British pounds per megawatt-hour, over four times the price compared to August the following year.

This statistic shows the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for electricity in the United Kingdom (UK) as an annual average from 2008 to 2023, where the year 2015 equals 100. In 2023 the annual average price index value of electricity was measured at *****, the highest recorded value during the period in display.

Wholesale electricity prices in the United Kingdom hit a record-high in 2022, reaching **** British pence per kilowatt-hour that year. Projections indicate that prices are bound to decrease steadily in the next few years, falling under **** pence per kilowatt-hour by 2030.

The Electricity Supply industry has developed considerably since its liberalisation in 1999. Following a period in which the Big Six suppliers dominated, energy regulator Ofgem endeavoured to introduce greater competition to the market as part of attempts to drive down energy bills. Major mergers and acquisitions effectively brought the dominance of the former Big Six suppliers to an end at the end of 2019-20. Along with weakening electricity consumption, swelling competition has applied further pressure on revenue in recent years. Electricity suppliers' revenue is slated to climb at a compound annual rate of 4.7% to reach £49.8 billion over the five years through 2024-25. The introduction of the standard variable tariff price cap in January 2019 squeezed revenue growth. The pandemic exacerbated the drop in revenue, as widespread tariff reductions compounded the effects of reduced electricity consumption. With suppliers bound by the energy price cap, soaring wholesale prices led to widening operating losses in 2021-22, albeit with a modest revenue recovery. A renewed spike in wholesale prices led to a continued wave of insolvencies among energy suppliers going into 2022-23, with 31 suppliers falling victim to the energy crisis. Soaring non-domestic energy bills and significant hikes to the SVT price cap spurred significant revenue growth in 2022-23, while the transfer of customer accounts from failed suppliers reinstated the dominance of major suppliers. The introduction of the Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) and support for business energy customers prevented energy prices from spiralling out of control going into 2023-24. A faster-than-anticipated drop in wholesale electricity prices has eased pressure on operating profit in the current year, contributing to an estimated 10.1% revenue contraction. Revenue is forecast to sink at a compound annual rate of 0.9% to £47.6 billion over the five years through 2029-30. Prices will remain elevated in the medium term as concerns surrounding supplies of Russian fossil fuels into Europe inflate wholesale costs. Wholesale prices are set to stabilise in the long term, spurring tariff reductions. The continued drop in electricity consumption is also set to limit growth prospects in the coming years.

In the first half of 2020, the natural gas prices for household end users (excluding taxes, levies, and VAT) in the United Kingdom did not change in comparison to the previous six months. The natural gas prices for household end users (excluding taxes, levies, and VAT) remained at 0.15 euro cents per kWh. Over the observed period, the natural gas prices have been subject to fluctuation.The prices include electricity/basic price, transmission, system services, meter rental, distribution and other services.Find more key insights for the natural gas prices for household end users (excluding taxes, levies, and VAT) in countries like Portugal, Italy, and Malta.

Electricity prices in Europe are expected to remain volatile through 2025, with Italy projected to have some of the highest rates among major European economies. This trend reflects the ongoing challenges in the energy sector, including the transition to renewable sources and the impact of geopolitical events on supply chains. Despite efforts to stabilize the market, prices in countries like Italy are forecasted to reach 153.83 euros per megawatt hour by February 2025, indicating persistent pressure on consumers and businesses alike. Natural gas futures shaping electricity costs The electricity market's future trajectory is closely tied to natural gas prices, a key component in power generation. Dutch TTF gas futures, a benchmark for European natural gas prices, are projected to be 40.67 euros per megawatt hour in April 2025. This represents an increase of about 13 euros compared to the previous year, suggesting that gas prices will continue to influence electricity rates across Europe. The reduced output from the Groningen gas field and increased reliance on imports further complicate the pricing landscape, potentially contributing to higher electricity costs in countries like Italy. Regional disparities and global market influences While European electricity prices remain high, significant regional differences persist. For instance, natural gas prices in the United States are expected to be roughly one-third of those in Europe by March 2025, at 4.13 U.S. dollars per million British thermal units. This stark contrast highlights the impact of domestic production capabilities on global natural gas prices. Europe's greater reliance on imports, particularly in the aftermath of geopolitical tensions and the shift away from Russian gas, continues to keep prices elevated compared to more self-sufficient markets. As a result, countries like Italy may face sustained pressure on electricity prices due to their position within the broader European energy market. [673333]