Advice
How to read your energy bill, plus today's rates for electricity, gas, oil, LPG, solar export and Feed-in Tariff, so you can check your deal.
Energy bills are one of the things people bring to our drop-ins most often. They are full of numbers, the layout changes from supplier to supplier, and it is easy to pay one for months without knowing whether it is right. The good news is that only a handful of checks matter, and this guide walks through them using this winter's figures.
Whoever supplies your energy, Ofgem's rules say your bill should include the same core information. According to the Energy Ombudsman, that means your account number and meter point numbers, how much energy you used this period and last period, your tariff, your balance with a breakdown of how it was worked out, any upcoming price changes, and how to complain.
The cost itself is built from three parts: the energy you used, charged at your unit rate; a daily standing charge, which you pay whether you use energy or not; and VAT.
1. Is it based on an actual meter reading? Look for an "E" or the word "estimated" next to the readings. Estimates can drift a long way from what you actually used. Send a reading, and take a dated photo of the meter while you are there. If you have a working smart meter, readings should be sent automatically, so a run of estimates is worth asking about.
2. How do your rates compare with the price cap? From 1 October to 31 December 2026, Ofgem's average price cap rates for Direct Debit customers are 26.32 pence per kilowatt-hour for electricity with a standing charge of 54.83 pence a day, and 7.97 pence per kilowatt-hour for gas with 29.68 pence a day. Rates vary a little by region, and a fixed deal will differ. The cap limits the price of each unit and the daily charge, not your total bill, so a bigger home or a colder month still means a bigger bill.
3. Is the VAT right? VAT has been removed from domestic electricity bills from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, while gas still carries 5 percent. A bill that covers both September and October may show VAT on the September part only, which is expected.
4. Does your usage look normal? Compare the kilowatt-hours with the same period last year, which most bills show. A big jump without a change in how you live can point to a faulty meter, a wrong reading or an appliance that is using more than it should.
5. When does your tariff end? Your bill should show your tariff name, any end date and exit fees. Suppliers must also show you a cheaper tariff if they have one, though only their own, not other companies' deals.
These are the rates in force on 17 October 2026, for every kind of home energy, so you can see whether you are on a good price:
Ofgem will announce the January to March price cap by 25 November. Energy analysts Cornwall Insight forecast on 30 September that a typical bill could rise by about 16 percent, to around £1,999 a year, mostly because of gas prices linked to the conflict in the Middle East. On 16 October Ofgem also opened a consultation, closing 29 October, on switching back on its "market stabilisation charge", last used from 2022 to 2024. It is not a charge on your bill, but it could make cheap fixed deals less generous if wholesale prices fall, and a decision is expected in mid-November. If you are thinking about a fixed deal, compare it with the rates above now and check the exit fees.
Contact your supplier first, with your meter readings and photos. If it is not sorted within eight weeks, or they send a "deadlock" letter, you can take it to the Energy Ombudsman free of charge. It is also worth knowing that if a supplier has made a mistake, Ofgem's back-billing rules stop them charging you for energy used more than 12 months ago.
Many homes in Forest Row heat with oil, which never appears on these bills and is not covered by the price cap, so the electricity bill can feel like the smaller worry. It still adds up over a year, and it is the bill that grows if you later move to a heat pump, so it pays to understand it now.
If you have solar panels, check that your export payments under the Smart Export Guarantee are arriving, either as a credit on the bill or as a separate statement. If you already have a heat pump, your electricity bill is now your heating bill, and the tariff you are on can make as much difference as the heat pump itself.
A smart meter can help with all of this. On the plus side, it ends estimated bills and opens the door to cheaper time-of-use tariffs. On the other hand, some older smart meters lose their smart function after a change of supplier, so keep an eye out for estimates returning.
If you would like a second pair of eyes, send a photo or PDF of your bill to our free quotes and bills review, or bring it along to our community energy drop-in, held on the third Saturday of every month at Forest Row Community Centre. While you are looking at paperwork, check whether your home has a current Energy Performance Certificate on the government register, as many grants and schemes use it. And if your bill review leads to a quote for new equipment, our audited local suppliers list is a good place to start.