Transparency data

Energy Price Guarantee (prepayment meters): regional rates and standing charges, January to March 2024

Updated 24 November 2023

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

The Chancellor announced on 15 March 2023 that the Energy Price Guarantee would be used to align costs for comparable prepayment meter (PPM) and direct debit customers, ensuring that those on PPMs no longer pay a premium for their energy costs. 

Between July to September 2023, the PPM premium was removed by providing PPM customers a discount on unit rates.

From 1 October 2023 there has been a change in how the discount is paid. Instead of being delivered via a discount to unit rates, it will be delivered via a discount to the standing charge.

The PPM standing charge discount does not generally bring PPM standing charges into direct alignment with standing charges for those paying by Direct Debit. Under Ofgem’s price cap, PPM customers often receive a lower unit rate cap than direct debit customers. The Energy Price Guarantee standing charge discount is calculated to bring overall costs into alignment for a typical PPM customer who will save around £40 per year. A typical PPM customer’s usage is calculated based on Ofgem’s ‘low’ level of energy use (see Ofgem’s definition of ‘low’ energy users).

Non-PPM households will continue not to receive an EPG discount on their gas and electricity bills from 1 October. This is because the Ofgem price cap is lower than the Energy Price Guarantee level, meaning households will pay the lower rate set by the price cap.

The tables below set out the maximum figures for tariffs subject to Ofgem’s price cap for January to March 2024. The EPG discount is incorporated into the PPM gas and electricity standing charge numbers.

Other payment method

Variable rate

Charge Restriction Region	Electricity: Single-Rate Metering Arrangement p/kwh ex VAT	Gas p/kwh ex VAT
North West	27.09	7.07
Northern	26.48	6.99
Yorkshire	26.47	7.00
Northern Scotland	27.12	7.02
Southern	27.42	7.16
Southern Scotland	26.82	7.02
N Wales and Mersey	28.16	7.10
London	28.31	7.07
South East	27.98	7.09
Eastern	27.82	6.96
East Midlands	26.68	6.94
Midlands	26.78	6.99
Southern Western	27.07	7.26
South Wales	27.34	7.21
GB Average	27.25	7.06

Standing charge

Charge Restriction Region	Electricity: Single-Rate Metering Arrangement p/day ex VAT	Gas p/day ex VAT
North West	49.3	28.2
Northern	54.7	28.2
Yorkshire	53.3	28.2
Northern Scotland	56.5	28.2
Southern	47.6	28.2
Southern Scotland	59.1	28.2
N Wales and Mersey	59.2	28.2
London	36.7	28.2
South East	45.3	28.2
Eastern	41.9	28.2
East Midlands	48.3	28.2
Midlands	51.8	28.2
Southern Western	55.9	28.2
South Wales	51.6	28.2
GB Average	50.8	28.2

Pre-payment meter

Variable rate

Charge Restriction Region	Electricity: Single-Rate Metering Arrangement p/kwh ex VAT	Gas p/kwh ex VAT
North West	26.67	6.88
Northern	26.06	6.83
Yorkshire	26.05	6.84
Northern Scotland	26.70	6.85
Southern	27.00	6.98
Southern Scotland	26.40	6.85
N Wales and Mersey	27.73	6.90
London	27.89	6.89
South East	27.56	6.91
Eastern	27.40	6.82
East Midlands	26.26	6.77
Midlands	26.37	6.80
Southern Western	26.65	7.14
South Wales	26.92	7.01
GB Average	26.83	6.89

Standing charge

Charge Restriction Region	Electricity: Single-Rate Metering Arrangement p/day ex VAT	Gas p/day ex VAT
North West	51.4	31.7
Northern	56.8	31.7
Yorkshire	55.4	31.7
Northern Scotland	58.6	31.7
Southern	49.7	31.7
Southern Scotland	61.2	31.7
N Wales and Mersey	61.3	31.7
London	38.8	31.7
South East	47.4	31.7
Eastern	44.0	31.7
East Midlands	50.4	31.7
Midlands	53.8	31.7
Southern Western	57.9	31.7
South Wales	53.7	31.7
GB Average	52.9	31.7