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Family of four in a house vs All-electric family house: Electricity Use Compared in the UK (2026)
Switching the same family from gas heating and hot water to electric can double or triple the electricity bill, even though the appliances have not changed. Heating is the largest energy use in any home, and moving it onto the electricity meter dwarfs everything else. Whether the total energy cost goes up depends on gas prices and on whether the electric heating is a heat pump or resistance.
In the UK, family of four in a house uses about 3,800 kWh a year (£82.33 a month) and all-electric family house about 6,100 kWh (£132.17 a month). That is 1.6× as much, or £49.83 more per month. Per person: 950 kWh vs 1,525 kWh a year.
Sources: Ofgem Typical Domestic Consumption Values, decision May 2026, effective 1 July 2026: High user (single-rate). Ofgem Typical Domestic Consumption Values, decision May 2026, effective 1 July 2026: High user, Economy 7 (electric heating). Priced at £0.26 per kWh (Ofgem price cap 1 Jul–30 Sep 2026, 2026-07).
Where the difference comes from
| Category | Family of four in a house | All-electric family house | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heating & cooling | 0 kWh | 2,300 kWh | +2,300 |
| Water heating | 0 kWh | 182 kWh | +182 |
| Refrigeration & freezing | 570 kWh | 542 kWh | -28 |
| Cooking | 331 kWh | 316 kWh | -15 |
| Washing, drying & dishwashing | 327 kWh | 311 kWh | -16 |
| TV, computing & network | 341 kWh | 324 kWh | -17 |
| Lighting | 196 kWh | 187 kWh | -9 |
| Other appliances | 2,035 kWh | 1,938 kWh | -97 |
- In the all-electric home, heating and hot water are typically half to two-thirds of the electricity bill.
- A heat pump cuts that heating share by half or more compared with resistance heating.
- The appliance part of the bill is the same in both houses; only the heating line changes.
Only in the all-electric family house
- None
Only in the family of four in a house
- None
The same comparison in other countries
| Country | Family of four in a house | All-electric family house | Ratio | Extra per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States (average) | 13,072 | 13,073 | 1.0× | $0.015 |
| United Kingdom | 3,800 | 6,100 | 1.6× | £49.83 |
| Germany | 3,800 | 4,700 | 1.2× | €27.75 |
| France | 6,034 | 13,290 | 2.2× | €120.93 |
| Australia | 7,311 | 7,311 | 1.0× | A$0.000 |
| Canada (average) | 12,694 | 17,750 | 1.4× | C$58.99 |