The October 2026 price cap: what moved and what to check on your bill
Unit rates and standing charges shift again this quarter. What it means if you're on a default tariff, and what it doesn't mean if you're fixed.
Where to start
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1
Octopus Energy Best overall
Ofgem-licensed supplier★★★★★- Clear app and bills
- Time-of-use tariffs for EV and heat-pump homes
- Strong customer-service record
Tariffs vary by region
Visit Octopus2
Uswitch Great free tool
Comparison service★★★★★- Ofgem-accredited comparison
- Shows exit fees and standing charges
- Covers most live tariffs
Free
Visit Uswitch3
Loop Best value
Smart-meter usage app★★★★★- Free smart-meter data import
- Phantom-load estimates
- Solar and tariff insights
Free
Visit Loop4
tado°
Smart thermostat★★★★★- Room-by-room scheduling
- Open-window detection
- Works with most UK boilers
From around £100
Visit tado°5
Citizens Advice Best for support
Free impartial help★★★★★- Independent energy advice
- Help with disputes and debt
- Clear scheme eligibility guides
If a bill is wrong or unaffordable, this is where to go before anything else on this list.
Plainwatt — what it does
Reads what you actually use
Works from your real meter data, not a national average.
Finds the quiet drains
Shows your 3am baseload so you can decide what to unplug or re-time.
Checks tariffs honestly
Includes standing charges and exit fees, because the unit rate alone misleads.
Nudges, not nagging
Reminds you about readings and price-cap dates — nothing more.
Your data stays yours
Meter access is consent-based and can be revoked in one tap.
No supplier owns us
Plainwatt is not run by an energy company and doesn't push one.
How a UK energy bill actually works
Every domestic bill has two prices: a unit rate (pence per kilowatt-hour you use) and a standing charge (pence per day you pay regardless). Ofgem's price cap limits both for default tariffs and is reviewed every three months. The cap is a limit on prices, not a limit on your bill — use more, pay more.
Most confusion comes from estimated bills. If your supplier hasn't had a reading, it guesses, and the guess can sit well above or below reality for months. A smart meter, or simply submitting readings on the same day each month, removes the guesswork. The Plainwatt app reads smart-meter data automatically with your consent, or takes manual readings and does the arithmetic for you.
Switching tariff or supplier is free and usually takes under three weeks, with a 14-day cooling-off period. Whether it's worth it depends on your pattern — a household that uses most of its electricity overnight sees very different numbers from one that cooks at 6pm. That's why this site keeps saying 'check your own usage' rather than quoting a headline saving.
4.6★
Average app store rating
12 min
Typical first usage read-through
Quarterly
Price-cap updates reflected in the app
0
Income or savings promises on this site
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Plainwatt
Plainwatt connects to your smart meter data (or takes manual readings), turns it into a plain daily picture of what your home uses, and checks whether a different tariff from a regulated UK supplier would cost less on your actual pattern.
- Imports half-hourly smart-meter data with your consent, or accepts manual readings
- Shows your overnight 'baseload' so you can see what's running when nothing should be
- Compares your real usage against current fixed and variable tariffs, including exit fees
- Flags estimated bills and reminds you when a reading is due
- Explains every line of your bill in plain English when you tap it
- Tracks price-cap changes and tells you what they mean for your tariff
★★★★★ 4.6
Free · iOS & Android
Browse by topic
Your first bill, decodedUnit rate, standing charge, estimated vs actual — the four lines that actually matter.Smart meters without the jargonWhat the in-home display shows, what it doesn't, and how to get a half-hourly readout.The Ofgem price capIt caps the unit price, not your bill. What changes each quarter and what to check.Fixed vs variable tariffsWhen fixing makes sense, when it doesn't, and how exit fees work.Heating habits that add upFlow temperature, thermostat schedules and radiator balancing for ordinary homes.Standby and 'vampire' loadHow to measure what your home uses at 3am and decide what's worth unplugging.
How it works
Read
Link your smart meter or enter two readings so the app works from real numbers.
Understand
See daily use, baseload and the areas costing most, explained line by line.
Compare
Check your pattern against current regulated tariffs, fees included.
Decide
Switch, change a habit, or do nothing — the app shows the trade-offs and leaves the choice to you.
The beginner's 20-minute energy check
Grab your last bill, your meter (or smart-meter display) and a cup of tea — this is the order we'd do it in.
- Find your unit rate and standing charge for gas and electricity on the bill and write them down
- Check whether the bill says 'estimated' or 'actual' — if estimated, take a reading now and submit it
- Note your tariff name and end date; if it's 'standard variable', the price cap applies
- Look at your overnight use (smart meter, Plainwatt or a plug-in monitor) to size your baseload
- List the five appliances you use most and roughly when — this is your usage pattern
- Check your boiler flow temperature and thermostat schedule; most homes have never adjusted either
- Run one honest comparison on your real usage, including exit fees, before deciding whether to switch
- Set a monthly reminder for readings, and a reminder a month before any fixed deal ends
Worth reading first
Plain, honest explainers on the topic — so you can decide what fits you.
Start here
The 20-minute bill check: four numbers every beginner should find
Unit rate, standing charge, meter reading type and tariff end date. Where each one lives on a typical UK bill and what to do once you've found them.
Smart meters
What your in-home display is really telling you (and the three things it can't)
The little screen shows live demand and daily spend, but not which appliance is responsible or whether your tariff is right. A plain tour of its screens.
Tariffs
Fixed or variable in 2026: a beginner's way to decide without guessing the market
Nobody knows where wholesale prices go next. Here's a simple decision frame based on your usage, your appetite for certainty and the exit fee.
Baseload
The 3am test: how to measure what your home uses when everyone's asleep
Overnight use is the easiest waste to spot. How to read it from a smart meter or a plug-in monitor and what a typical flat or semi looks like.
Heating
Turning down your boiler's flow temperature: a 10-minute job most homes haven't done
Combi boilers often ship set too high. A step-by-step on the dial, what 60°C means for comfort, and when to leave it alone.
Switching
Switching supplier step by step: what you need, what happens and what can go wrong
Readings, the 14-day cooling-off window, credit balances and the one thing to check before a fixed deal ends.
Support
Help with energy bills in the UK: the schemes that exist and how to ask
Warm Home Discount, supplier hardship funds, the Priority Services Register and what to say when you call. No shame, just the process.
Appliances
Tumble dryer, oven, kettle, shower: a beginner's guide to the big draws
Which appliances dominate most UK bills, roughly what a cycle costs at current unit rates, and the habit changes that are actually worth the bother.
From the blog
Plainwatt 2.4: manual readings now estimate your baseload too
You no longer need a smart meter to see overnight use. Two readings 24 hours apart plus a short questionnaire gives a workable estimate.
Fake 'energy rebate' texts are back — how to tell them from your supplier
Real suppliers don't ask for card details by text link. The three tells, and where to report one.
Free · iOS & Android
Understand your bill before you change anything
Link your meter or enter two readings and see your usage in plain English. No savings promised — just a clear picture to decide from.
Get the Plainwatt appAbout Plainwatt
Plainwatt is an independent UK guide and app for people who want to understand their energy bills without a degree in it. We are not an energy supplier, we don't sell tariffs, and we don't promise savings — what you save, if anything, depends on your home, your habits and the market. Some links on this site are affiliate links, which we flag clearly.
| Company | Plainwatt Media Ltd |
| Registration | Company no. 15738241 |
| Registered office | Manchester, United Kingdom |
| Focus | Independent guides & tools |
The short answers
Do I need a smart meter to use Plainwatt?
No. The app works best with half-hourly smart-meter data, but you can enter manual readings and it will still break down your usage and check tariffs on a daily basis.
Will the app tell me how much I'll save?
It shows the difference between your current tariff and alternatives on your past usage. That's an estimate based on history, not a promise — future prices and your habits both change.
Is switching supplier safe?
Yes. Supply is never interrupted, the new supplier handles the process, and you have a 14-day cooling-off period. Take a reading on switch day to avoid disputes.
What's the difference between the price cap and a fixed tariff?
The cap limits the unit rate and standing charge on default variable tariffs and changes quarterly. A fixed tariff locks your rates for a set term, usually with an exit fee if you leave early.
How does Plainwatt access my meter data?
Through the industry's consent-based access route for smart meters. You approve it, you can see what's shared, and you can revoke it in the app at any time.
Does Plainwatt make money from suppliers?
We don't take payment to rank anyone. Some links on this site are affiliate links and may earn a commission; our app recommendations are driven by your usage data, not by who pays.
I can't afford my bill. What should I do first?
Contact your supplier — they're required to offer a payment plan — and check the Warm Home Discount and Priority Services Register. Citizens Advice can help for free if you're stuck.
Are plug-in 'energy saver' boxes worth buying?
No. Independent tests have consistently found they don't reduce household consumption. Spend the money on a plug-in power monitor instead if you want to see where usage goes.
Plainwatt provides general information, not financial or professional advice. Energy prices, tariffs and eligibility for support change; any savings depend on your home and usage and are never guaranteed.