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 average wholesale electricity price in September 2025 in the United Kingdom is forecast to amount 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 21.92 GBP/MWh or 21.40% 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.

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 still have not returned to pre-pandemic levels, such as in countries like Italy, where prices are forecast to reach ****** euros per megawatt hour in August 2025. 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 ***** euros per megawatt hour in July 2025. 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 **** 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. As of August 2025, electricity prices in Italy have decreased to ****** euros per megawatt hour, reflecting ongoing volatility in the market.

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 6.2% to reach £52.1 billion over the five years through 2025-26. 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 from pandemic-induced lows. 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 since eased pressure on operating profit and caused revenue to come-down. However, wholesale prices and energy bills remain significantly above levels seen prior to the energy crisis. Revenue is forecast to decline by 4.5% in the current year. Revenue is forecast to creep up at a compound annual rate of 0.1% over the five years through 2030-31, reaching £52.3 billion. 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.

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

The average wholesale electricity price in September 2025 in the United Kingdom is forecast to amount 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.

The electricity delivery process has experienced a major shift in recent years, driven by a push to reduce emissions. Governments across Europe are actively moving away from conventional sources of electricity generation, leading to a decline in the continent's dependency on fossil fuels. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), renewables accounted for 41.7% of electricity generation in Europe in 2022, up from 32.9% in 2017. The rise of renewables has spurred an influx of renewable generators and necessitated increased investment in electricity networks. This has lifted revenue for transmission and distribution network operators. Revenue is forecast to rise at a compound annual rate of 8.7% over the five years through 2025, reaching €2.8 billion. Falling wholesale prices and a reduction in overall electricity consumption spurred a drop in revenue during the pandemic. Excess demand for natural gas as economies loosened pandemic-related restrictions spurred a strong rebound in wholesale electricity prices in 2021, translating to a jump in revenue. Wholesale prices recorded a renewed spike following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, spurring a surge in revenue generated by electricity producers and suppliers. Renewable generators were able to rake in extra profit from electricity sold to wholesale markets at inflated prices, counterbalancing a significant rise in costs for fossil fuel generators and electricity suppliers. Wholesale prices have since come down as Europe has diversified its fuel mix away from Russian gas. Revenue is forecast to decline by 5.1% in the current year. Revenue is forecast to increase at a compound annual rate of 0.3% over the five years through 2030 to €2.9 billion. The revised Renewable Energy Directive of the EU has set a goal for 69% of electricity to be generated from renewables by 2030. Electricity generators will continue expanding their renewables capacity, while investment in upgrading the electricity network to accommodate the rapid shift to renewables will boost income for transmission and distribution network operators. Rising renewable electricity generation will place downward pressure on wholesale prices, though the electrification of heat and transport is set to spur an uptick in demand for electricity across the continent.

UK Gas rose to 80.96 GBp/thm on October 3, 2025, up 2.19% from the previous day. Over the past month, UK Gas's price has risen 2.32%, but it is still 20.62% lower than a year ago, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. UK Natural Gas - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on October of 2025.

This statistic shows the projected price of electricity for final demand sectors in the United Kingdom, from 2020 to 2050. The projections form part of the EU Reference Scenario 2016, providing a framework by which energy and environment policy can be assessed.The price of electricity is to fall after 2030, eventually reaching *** euros per megawatt hours in 2050.

This dataset provides values for ELECTRICITY PRICE reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

The price of gas in the United Kingdom was *** British pence per therm in the fourth quarter of 2024. It is anticipated gas prices will increase to *** pence in the second quarter of 2025 before gradually falling to just under ** pence by the second quarter of 2027.
Surging energy costs and the cost of living crisis At the height of the UK's cost of living crisis in 2022, approximately ** percent of UK households were experiencing rising prices compared with the previous month. It was during 2022 that the UK's CPI inflation rate reached a peak of **** percent, in October of that year. Food and energy, in particular, were the main drivers of inflation during this period, with energy inflation reaching **** percent, and food prices increasing by **** percent at the height of the crisis. Although prices fell to more expected levels by 2024, an uptick in inflation is forecast for 2025, with prices rising by *** percent in the third quarter of the year. Global Inflation Crisis The UK was not alone in suffering rapid inflation during this time period, with several countries across the world experiencing an inflation crisis. The roots of the crisis began as the global economy gradually emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. Blocked-up supply chains, struggled to recover as quickly as consumer demand, with food and energy prices also facing upward pressure. Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 led to Europe gradually weening itself of cheap Russian energy exports, while for several months Ukraine struggled to export crucial food supplies to the rest of the World.

The average wholesale electricity price in August 2025 in France is forecast to amount to*******euros per megawatt-hour, a decrease from the previous month. The electricity price was more than twice as high during the same month the previous year.

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Electricity Trading Market Size 2025-2029

The electricity trading market size is forecast to increase by USD 123.5 billion at a CAGR of 6.5% between 2024 and 2029.

The market is witnessing significant growth due to several key trends. The integration of renewable energy sources, such as solar panels and wind turbines, into the grid is a major driver. Energy storage systems are increasingly being adopted to ensure a stable power supply from these intermittent sources. Concurrently, the adoption of energy storage systems addresses key challenges like intermittency, enabling better integration of renewable sources, and bolstering grid resilience. Self-generation of electricity by consumers through microgrids is also gaining popularity, allowing them to sell excess power back to the grid. The entry of new players and collaborations among existing ones are further fueling market growth. These trends reflect the shift towards clean energy and the need for a more decentralized and efficient electricity system.

What will be the Size of the Electricity Trading Market During the Forecast Period?

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The market, a critical component of the global energy industry, functions as a dynamic interplay between wholesale energy markets and traditional financial markets. As a commodity, electricity is bought and sold through various trading mechanisms, including equities, bonds, and real-time auctions. The market's size and direction are influenced by numerous factors, such as power station generation data, system operator demands, and consumer usage patterns. Participants in the market include power station owners, system operators, consumers, and ancillary service providers. Ancillary services, like frequency regulation and spinning reserves, help maintain grid stability. Market design and news reports shape the market's evolution, with initiatives like the European Green Paper and the Lisbon Strategy influencing the industry's direction towards increased sustainability and competition.
Short-term trading, through power purchase agreements and power distribution contracts, plays a significant role in the market's real-time dynamics. Power generation and power distribution are intricately linked, with the former influencing the availability and price of electricity, and the latter affecting demand patterns. Overall, the market is a complex, ever-evolving system that requires a deep understanding of both energy market fundamentals and financial market dynamics.

How is this Electricity Trading Industry segmented and which is the largest segment?

The industry research report provides comprehensive data (region-wise segment analysis), with forecasts and estimates in 'USD billion' for the period 2025-2029, as well as historical data from 2019-2023 for the following segments.

Type

  Day-ahead trading
  Intraday trading


Application

  Industrial
  Commercial
  Residential


Source

  Non-renewable energy
  Renewable energy


Geography

  Europe

    Germany
    UK
    France
    Italy
    Spain


  APAC

    China
    India
    Japan
    South Korea


  North America

    US


  South America



  Middle East and Africa

By Type Insights

The day-ahead trading segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period.

Day-ahead trading refers to the voluntary, financially binding forward electricity trading that occurs in exchanges such as the European Power Exchange (EPEX Spot) and Energy Exchange Austria (EXAA), as well as through bilateral contracts. This process involves sellers and buyers agreeing on the required volume of electricity for the next day, resulting in a schedule for everyday intervals. However, this schedule is subject to network security constraints and adjustments for real-time conditions and actual electricity supply and demand. Market operators, including ISOs and RTOs, oversee these markets and ensure grid reliability through balancing and ancillary services. Traders, including utilities, energy providers, and professional and institutional traders, participate in these markets to manage price risk, hedge against price volatility, and optimize profitability.

Key factors influencing electricity prices include weather conditions, fuel prices, availability, construction costs, and physical factors. Renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, also play a growing role in these markets, with the use of Renewable Energy Certificates and net metering providing consumer protection and incentives for homeowners and sustainable homes. Electricity trading encompasses power generators, power suppliers, consumers, and system operators, with contracts, generation data, and power station dispatch governed by market rules and regulations.

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The day-ahead trading

Spain Electricity decreased 42.61 EUR/MWh or 31.36% 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 Spain 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.

Greater awareness about the effects of climate change has driven an aggressive decarbonising strategy spearheaded by renewables. Government targets and incentives encourage major investment in renewable assets among UK energy giants. Technology developments have boosted potential generating capacity, particularly in offshore wind, which has grown the fastest of all renewable energy sources. According to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the share of electricity generated by major power producers from renewables surged from 34.5% in 2019-20 to 42.4% in 2023-24. Renewable generators' revenue is slated to climb at a compound annual rate of 8.7% over the five years through 2024-25 to reach £14.5 billion. Growth has been underpinned by the UK’s rapid expansion of renewable generating capacity. Offshore wind has recorded the most significant expansion in generation volumes as investors look to take advantage of technological advancements to tap into the UK's abundant natural resources. Soaring wholesale prices have added to revenue growth since H2 2021-22; however, operators of renewable generation assets that operate under a Contract for Difference (CfD) have been required to pay back the difference between wholesale prices and CfD strike prices, limiting the impact of a surge in wholesale prices on operating profit. Inflation-linked increases to fixed price mechanisms have also boosted growth. Revenue is forecast to jump by 11.4% in 2024-25. Revenue is forecast to swell at a compound annual rate of 11.1% over the five years through 2029-30 to reach £24.6 billion. The UK already has a strong pipeline of renewable assets set for delivery in the coming years, with ongoing government support likely to fuel further investment. In the short term, increased capacity is set against a backdrop of falling strike prices, though the extent of capacity expansion should support further growth. Hikes in strike prices secured in the most recent CfD allocation round will also boost growth in the longer term. Rising battery storage capacity should help support growth in renewables' share of the UK energy mix by reducing barriers associated with intermittent supplies of renewable power.