Question 1

What does my energy bill actually consist of?

Accepted Answer

A typical UK energy bill is made up of four parts: wholesale energy costs (~39%), network costs for pipes and wires (~27%), supplier operating costs (~21%), and policy costs like the Warm Home Discount and green levies (~13%). Only 39p in every pound goes on the actual energy you use.

Question 2

How do I know if I’m overpaying on my energy bill?

Accepted Answer

The main indicator is whether you’re on a Standard Variable Tariff (SVT) rather than a fixed deal. SVTs are capped at the Ofgem price cap but competitive fixed deals often beat that by £100-250 per year. Uploading your bill to this tool will compare your current rates against live market tariffs in your region.

Question 3

What is a standing charge on an energy bill?

Accepted Answer

A standing charge is a fixed daily fee you pay regardless of how much energy you use. It covers the cost of maintaining the pipes, wires and meters that connect your home to the grid. In 2026, the Ofgem price cap sets the maximum standing charge at around 61p/day for electricity and 32p/day for gas on direct debit.

Question 4

What are green levies on my energy bill?

Accepted Answer

Green levies are government policy costs added to every UK energy bill to fund renewable energy schemes, home insulation programmes, and support for vulnerable customers. They include the Renewables Obligation, Feed-in Tariffs, the Warm Home Discount, and the Energy Company Obligation. Together they add roughly £150-180 per year to the average dual-fuel bill.

Question 5

Is it safe to upload my energy bill?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your bill image is sent directly to the analysis API and is not stored or retained. We extract only the rate information needed - supplier name, unit rates, standing charges, and your region. No account numbers or personal details are saved.

Question 6

How much could I save by switching energy supplier?

Accepted Answer

Most households on a Standard Variable Tariff can save £100-250 per year by switching to the cheapest fixed deal in their region. The exact saving depends on your current rates, your region, and current market conditions - this tool calculates it from your actual bill.

Question 7

What energy bill formats does this tool accept?

Accepted Answer

The tool accepts PNG, JPG, and PDF energy bill uploads. It works with bills from all major UK suppliers including British Gas, Octopus, E.ON, EDF, OVO, Scottish Power, and smaller suppliers. Any clear photo or scan of your bill will work.

Question 8

What is a unit rate on an energy bill?

Accepted Answer

A unit rate is the price you pay per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of energy you actually consume. It is measured in pence per kWh. In 2026, the Ofgem price cap unit rate is around 24.5p/kWh for electricity and 6.0p/kWh for gas on direct debit. If your bill shows a higher unit rate, you may be overpaying.

Question 9

Why does my energy bill change every quarter?

Accepted Answer

Energy bills in the UK change quarterly because Ofgem reviews and resets the price cap every three months based on wholesale gas and electricity market prices. The price cap sets the maximum unit rate and standing charge suppliers can charge on default tariffs. Bills can go up or down depending on global energy market conditions.

Watts in
My Bill?

Drop your energy bill here