Definition: A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is the standard unit of energy on UK bills: one kilowatt of power used for one hour. Electricity costs 26.32p per kWh under Ofgem’s price cap for October to December 2026.
Everyday examples
A 3kW kettle running for 20 minutes uses 1 kWh. A typical UK home uses 2,500 kWh of electricity and 9,500 kWh of gas per year.
Why it matters for upgrades
Savings estimates are built on kWh: a solar system generating 3,400 kWh a year offsets electricity you’d otherwise buy at full price — that’s the saving.
Estimate your numbers: try the free savings calculator or browse all upgrade guides.
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