Most people look at their energy bill and see only the total. But understanding the components helps you identify whether you're being charged correctly and where your consumption is going.
Key numbers on your gas bill
Unit rate: The price you pay per kWh (kilowatt-hour) of gas. As of 2025, the Ofgem price cap sets this at around 6.99p/kWh. Compare this to the unit rate on your bill — if yours is higher, you may be able to switch to a better tariff.
Standing charge: A daily fixed charge regardless of how much gas you use. Currently around 31–32p/day under the price cap. Some tariffs have lower standing charges and higher unit rates, or vice versa.
Usage (kWh): Total gas consumed in the billing period. A 3-bed semi with a gas combi typically uses 10,000–15,000 kWh/year. Significantly higher than this suggests an inefficient boiler or poor insulation.
Estimated vs actual readings
Bills based on estimated readings can be significantly wrong. Submit actual meter readings monthly (or install a smart meter) to pay exactly what you use.
What unusually high gas consumption means
If your kWh consumption is higher than expected and your household and usage patterns haven't changed, your boiler may be running inefficiently — possibly due to scale on the heat exchanger or a failing component. Book a service or diagnostic visit.