Electricity Bill for a Couple in an apartment in the UK (2026)

Two adults in a flat, both working, cooking most evenings. A dishwasher and a second laptop appear, the washing machine runs more often, and the TV is on longer.

A couple in an apartment uses about 2,500 kWh of electricity a year. At United Kingdom prices of 26.3p per kWh (source: Ofgem price cap 1 Oct–31 Dec 2026, Oct 2026), that is £54.83 per month, or £658.00 per year.

Benchmark: Ofgem Typical Domestic Consumption Values, decision May 2026, effective 1 July 2026: Medium user (single-rate). Data as of 2026-07. It covers Profile Class 1 is standard single-rate homes, mostly gas heated. Profile Class 2 is multi-rate (Economy 7) homes, typically electrically heated. United Kingdom statistics do not separate this household from couple in a house or retired couple at home all day, so they share the same official figure.

Where the electricity goes

Other appliances: 1,339 kWh, 54%, £352.44 per year. Hair Dryer, Vacuum CleanerOther appliances54% · 1,339 kWhHair Dryer, Vacuum CleanerRefrigeration & freezing: 375 kWh, 15%, £98.62 per year. RefrigeratorRefrigeration & freezing15% · 375 kWhRefrigeratorTV, computing & network: 224 kWh, 9%, £59.01 per year. Laptop ×2, Television, Computer MonitorTV, computing & network9% · 224 kWhLaptop ×2, Television, Computer MonitorCooking: 218 kWh, 9%, £57.39 per year. Induction Cooktop, Electric Oven, Coffee Maker9%Washing, drying & dishwashing: 215 kWh, 9%, £56.58 per year. Dishwasher, Washing MachineWashing, drying & dishwashing9% · 215 kWhDishwasher, Washing MachineLighting: 129 kWh, 5%, £33.95 per year. LED Light Bulb ×8Lighting5% · 129 kWhLED Light Bulb ×8
End usePer yearCostShare
Refrigeration & freezing375 kWh£98.6215%
Cooking218 kWh£57.399%
Washing, drying & dishwashing215 kWh£56.589%
TV, computing & network224 kWh£59.019%
Lighting129 kWh£33.955%
Other appliances1,339 kWh£352.4454%

End-use shares: DESNZ Energy Consumption in the UK 2025, Table U3, domestic electricity 2024: space heating 14.5%, water heating 4.1%, cooking 7.1%, lighting 4.2%, appliances 70.1%. The split of 'appliances' into cold, wet, electronics and other is not published and is derived from US RECS proportions. Some of these shares are derived rather than published; see the note. This benchmark excludes heating & cooling and water heating, which are on gas or counted separately in this country's statistics.

Through the day

kW0.30.6Refrigeration & freezing: 1.0 kWh a day, peak around 0:00Cooking: 0.6 kWh a day, peak around 18:00Washing, drying & dishwashing: 0.6 kWh a day, peak around 19:00TV, computing & network: 0.6 kWh a day, peak around 19:00Lighting: 0.4 kWh a day, peak around 18:00Other appliances: 3.7 kWh a day, peak around 18:000003060912151821
Illustrative shape of a typical day: each band's area equals that end use's share of 6.8 kWh a day, peaking around 18:00. The timing is a standard household pattern, not a measurement, and it changes with season and habits.

What drives this household's bill

Appliance by appliance

Each end-use bucket above is spread over this household's appliances in proportion to their typical use, never at more than twice that use or more hours than the appliance can realistically run. What the listed appliances cannot account for appears as "not listed" rows, so the table still adds up to the official figures. Hours are implied, not measured.

ApplianceEnd useTypicalHours/dayPer yearCost
RefrigeratorRefrigeration & freezing150 W6.8 h375 kWh£98.62
DishwasherWashing, drying & dishwashing1,500 W18 min161 kWh£42.44
LED Light Bulb ×8Lighting9 W4.9 h129 kWh£33.95
Hair DryerOther appliances1,800 W9 min99 kWh£25.94
Induction CooktopCooking1,800 W8 min90 kWh£23.75
Laptop ×2TV, computing & network45 W2.7 h87 kWh£22.99
Vacuum CleanerOther appliances1,000 W10 min64 kWh£16.81
TelevisionTV, computing & network100 W1.7 h63 kWh£16.60
Electric OvenCooking2,500 W4 min63 kWh£16.49
Washing MachineWashing, drying & dishwashing500 W18 min54 kWh£14.15
Computer MonitorTV, computing & network30 W2.7 h29 kWh£7.66
Wi-Fi RouterTV, computing & network10 W8.0 h29 kWh£7.66
Coffee Maker (Drip)Cooking1,000 W4 min25 kWh£6.60
Electric KettleCooking2,000 W2 min23 kWh£5.94
MicrowaveCooking1,000 W2 min13 kWh£3.30
Smart SpeakerTV, computing & network3 W8.0 h9 kWh£2.30
ToasterCooking1,000 W1 min5 kWh£1.32
Phone Charger ×2TV, computing & network10 W40 min5 kWh£1.28
Streaming Stick or BoxTV, computing & network4 W1.3 h2 kWh£0.51
Small appliances, standby and items not listedOther appliances––1,177 kWh£309.69

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The same household in other countries

CountryOfficial benchmarkPer yearPer month
United States (average)10,648 kWh$1,953$162.74
United Kingdom2,500 kWh£658.00£54.83
Germany1,900 kWh€703.00€58.58
France3,017 kWh€603.70€50.31
Australia5,237 kWhA$1,833A$152.75
Canada (average)7,417 kWhC$1,038C$86.53

Each row uses that country's own regulator benchmark and average price, in local currency. Differences reflect climate, heating fuel and appliance ownership as much as price.

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