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Single person in an apartment vs Couple in an apartment: Electricity Use Compared in the UK (2026)
Adding a second person to a flat raises the bill by about half, not double. Cooking, washing and screen time roughly double, but the fridge, router and lights were already on. Regulators see this in every country: the second person is the cheapest one to add.
In the UK, single person in an apartment uses about 1,600 kWh a year (£34.67 a month) and couple in an apartment about 2,500 kWh (£54.17 a month). That is 1.6× as much, or £19.50 more per month. Per person: 1,600 kWh vs 1,250 kWh a year.
Sources: Ofgem Typical Domestic Consumption Values, decision May 2026, effective 1 July 2026: Low user (single-rate). Ofgem Typical Domestic Consumption Values, decision May 2026, effective 1 July 2026: Medium user (single-rate). Priced at £0.26 per kWh (Ofgem price cap 1 Jul–30 Sep 2026, 2026-07).
Where the difference comes from
| Category | Single person in an apartment | Couple in an apartment | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigeration & freezing | 240 kWh | 375 kWh | +135 |
| Cooking | 140 kWh | 218 kWh | +78 |
| Washing, drying & dishwashing | 138 kWh | 215 kWh | +77 |
| TV, computing & network | 143 kWh | 224 kWh | +81 |
| Lighting | 83 kWh | 129 kWh | +46 |
| Other appliances | 857 kWh | 1,339 kWh | +482 |
- The fridge is the same fridge; it is the largest item for the single person and a smaller share for the couple.
- A dishwasher usually appears with the second person and adds more than the person does.
- Two laptops and a second phone are trivial; a second TV on for hours is not.
Only in the couple in an apartment
- Dishwasher 161 kWh/yr
- Electric Oven 63 kWh/yr
- Computer Monitor 29 kWh/yr
- Coffee Maker (Drip) 25 kWh/yr
- Smart Speaker 9 kWh/yr
Only in the single person in an apartment
- None
The same comparison in other countries
| Country | Single person in an apartment | Couple in an apartment | Ratio | Extra per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States (average) | 7,184 | 10,648 | 1.5× | $51.96 |
| United Kingdom | 1,600 | 2,500 | 1.6× | £19.50 |
| Germany | 1,200 | 1,900 | 1.6× | €21.58 |
| France | 1,905 | 3,017 | 1.6× | €18.53 |
| Australia | 3,109 | 5,237 | 1.7× | A$62.07 |
| Canada (average) | 6,583 | 7,417 | 1.1× | C$9.73 |