Energy API Reference
Ofgem energy price-cap rates for standard variable tariffs in Great Britain.
Base URL: https://api.govdata.dev/v1
Energy price cap
Returns every regional unit rate and standing charge for the current or requested Ofgem cap period, for tariff-comparison services, budgeting tools, and consumer-support teams. Estimate a household's capped variable-tariff cost from its actual kWh usage or compare payment methods across Great Britain's 14 electricity distribution regions.
GET
/v1/energy/price-cap
response
Waiting for request...
Parameters
| Name | Type | Required | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
period |
string | No | current period | A cap-period start date in YYYY-MM-DD format, or history to return every loaded period. |
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \ "https://api.govdata.dev/v1/energy/price-cap?period=2026-07-01"
uri = URI("https://api.govdata.dev/v1/energy/price-cap?period=2026-07-01") req = Net::HTTP::Get.new(uri, "Authorization" => "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY") res = Net::HTTP.start(uri.hostname, uri.port, use_ssl: true) { |http| http.request(req) }
response = requests.get( "https://api.govdata.dev/v1/energy/price-cap", headers={"Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"}, params={"period": "2026-07-01"} )
const url = new URL("https://api.govdata.dev/v1/energy/price-cap"); url.searchParams.set("period", "2026-07-01"); const response = await fetch(url, { headers: { Authorization: "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" } });
Response
{ "data": { "period": { "start": "2026-07-01", "end": "2026-09-30", "typical_annual_bill_gbp": 1663 }, "rates": [ { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "direct_debit", "region": "Eastern", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "26.38", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "53.94" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "direct_debit", "region": "East Midlands", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "25.10", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "53.60" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "direct_debit", "region": "London", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "26.35", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "44.78" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "direct_debit", "region": "Northern", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "25.22", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "64.29" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "direct_debit", "region": "Northern Scotland", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "26.42", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "57.55" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "direct_debit", "region": "North Wales and Mersey", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "27.66", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "70.76" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "direct_debit", "region": "North West", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "26.13", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "47.61" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "direct_debit", "region": "South East", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "26.67", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "54.45" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "direct_debit", "region": "Southern", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "26.42", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "49.70" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "direct_debit", "region": "Southern Scotland", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "25.85", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "64.17" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "direct_debit", "region": "South Wales", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "26.33", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "57.84" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "direct_debit", "region": "South West", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "26.39", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "57.89" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "direct_debit", "region": "West Midlands", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "25.33", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "59.71" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "direct_debit", "region": "Yorkshire", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "25.31", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "64.38" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "direct_debit", "region": "Eastern", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.26", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "28.70" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "direct_debit", "region": "East Midlands", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.19", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "28.78" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "direct_debit", "region": "London", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.50", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "29.52" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "direct_debit", "region": "Northern", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.28", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "29.15" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "direct_debit", "region": "Northern Scotland", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.23", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "29.22" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "direct_debit", "region": "North Wales and Mersey", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.28", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "29.42" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "direct_debit", "region": "North West", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.24", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "29.17" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "direct_debit", "region": "South East", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.39", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "28.63" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "direct_debit", "region": "Southern", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.53", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "28.53" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "direct_debit", "region": "Southern Scotland", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.23", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "29.24" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "direct_debit", "region": "South Wales", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.42", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "29.30" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "direct_debit", "region": "South West", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.48", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "28.68" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "direct_debit", "region": "West Midlands", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.27", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "29.06" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "direct_debit", "region": "Yorkshire", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.27", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "29.12" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "prepayment", "region": "Eastern", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "25.58", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "53.94" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "prepayment", "region": "East Midlands", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "24.34", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "53.60" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "prepayment", "region": "London", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "25.55", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "44.78" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "prepayment", "region": "Northern", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "24.46", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "64.29" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "prepayment", "region": "Northern Scotland", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "25.62", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "57.55" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "prepayment", "region": "North Wales and Mersey", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "26.82", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "70.76" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "prepayment", "region": "North West", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "25.34", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "47.61" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "prepayment", "region": "South East", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "25.86", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "54.45" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "prepayment", "region": "Southern", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "25.62", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "49.70" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "prepayment", "region": "Southern Scotland", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "25.07", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "64.17" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "prepayment", "region": "South Wales", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "25.54", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "57.84" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "prepayment", "region": "South West", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "25.59", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "57.89" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "prepayment", "region": "West Midlands", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "24.57", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "59.71" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "prepayment", "region": "Yorkshire", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "24.54", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "64.38" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "prepayment", "region": "Eastern", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.06", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "28.70" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "prepayment", "region": "East Midlands", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "6.92", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "28.78" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "prepayment", "region": "London", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.27", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "29.52" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "prepayment", "region": "Northern", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.06", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "29.15" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "prepayment", "region": "Northern Scotland", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "6.95", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "29.22" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "prepayment", "region": "North Wales and Mersey", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "6.99", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "29.42" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "prepayment", "region": "North West", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "6.95", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "29.17" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "prepayment", "region": "South East", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.14", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "28.63" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "prepayment", "region": "Southern", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.32", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "28.53" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "prepayment", "region": "Southern Scotland", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "6.95", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "29.24" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "prepayment", "region": "South Wales", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.15", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "29.30" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "prepayment", "region": "South West", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.27", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "28.68" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "prepayment", "region": "West Midlands", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.01", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "29.06" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "prepayment", "region": "Yorkshire", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.01", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "29.12" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "standard_credit", "region": "Eastern", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "27.85", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "62.74" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "standard_credit", "region": "East Midlands", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "26.49", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "62.13" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "standard_credit", "region": "London", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "27.81", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "52.13" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "standard_credit", "region": "Northern", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "26.63", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "73.22" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "standard_credit", "region": "Northern Scotland", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "27.89", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "65.92" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "standard_credit", "region": "North Wales and Mersey", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "29.20", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "79.63" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "standard_credit", "region": "North West", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "27.58", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "55.51" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "standard_credit", "region": "South East", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "28.15", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "63.33" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "standard_credit", "region": "Southern", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "27.89", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "58.32" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "standard_credit", "region": "Southern Scotland", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "27.29", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "72.78" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "standard_credit", "region": "South Wales", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "27.80", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "66.20" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "standard_credit", "region": "South West", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "27.86", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "66.86" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "standard_credit", "region": "West Midlands", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "26.74", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "68.37" }, { "fuel": "electricity", "payment_method": "standard_credit", "region": "Yorkshire", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "26.72", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "73.28" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "standard_credit", "region": "Eastern", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.64", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "36.70" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "standard_credit", "region": "East Midlands", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.57", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "36.70" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "standard_credit", "region": "London", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.90", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "36.68" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "standard_credit", "region": "Northern", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.67", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "36.70" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "standard_credit", "region": "Northern Scotland", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.61", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "36.70" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "standard_credit", "region": "North Wales and Mersey", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.66", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "36.70" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "standard_credit", "region": "North West", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.62", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "36.70" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "standard_credit", "region": "South East", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.78", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "36.69" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "standard_credit", "region": "Southern", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.92", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "36.68" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "standard_credit", "region": "Southern Scotland", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.61", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "36.70" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "standard_credit", "region": "South Wales", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.82", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "36.69" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "standard_credit", "region": "South West", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.87", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "36.68" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "standard_credit", "region": "West Midlands", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.66", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "36.70" }, { "fuel": "gas", "payment_method": "standard_credit", "region": "Yorkshire", "unit_rate_pence_per_kwh": "7.65", "standing_charge_pence_per_day": "36.70" } ], "notes": { "coverage": "Standard variable tariffs in Great Britain", "cap_scope": "Maximum unit rates and standing charges; not a cap on the total bill", "regional_variation": "Rates vary across Ofgem's 14 electricity distribution regions" } }, "meta": { "api_version": "v1", "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0", "source": "Ofgem", "source_url": "https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-households/energy-price-cap-unit-rates-and-standing-charges" } }
unit_rate_pence_per_kwh and standing_charge_pence_per_day are capped per-unit prices, returned as two-decimal strings to preserve display precision. typical_annual_bill_gbp is Ofgem's national illustration at typical consumption, not the sum of the regional rows and not a household bill cap.
Error responses
400 — invalid period syntax.
{"error":{"code":"invalid_parameter","message":"period must be history or a cap-period start date in YYYY-MM-DD format.","documentation_url":"https://docs.govdata.dev/errors/invalid_parameter"}}
404 — valid date with no loaded cap period. There is no endpoint-specific 422 branch.
{"error":{"code":"not_found","message":"No energy price cap data is available for that period.","documentation_url":"https://docs.govdata.dev/errors/not_found"}}
Data notes
Coverage and cadence: standard variable (default) tariffs in England, Scotland and Wales. Each announced period is verified against Ofgem's published cap model and added manually; a weekly drift check flags discrepancies. Northern Ireland has a separate energy market and is not covered.
Licence and attribution: source Ofgem default tariff cap levels, reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Attribute Ofgem when republishing.
The cap limits unit rates and standing charges; it is not a cap on your total bill. Bills still depend on consumption. Rates vary by payment method and across 14 electricity distribution regions; the endpoint contains single-rate electricity only, not Economy 7 or other multi-rate tariffs.
The £1,663 headline for 1 July–30 September 2026 uses Ofgem's revised Typical Domestic Consumption Values announced on 27 May 2026. It is illustrative, not guaranteed. The canonical cap model is XLSX; current and immediately preceding periods are verified in seeds, while historical coverage before April 2026 is not yet loaded.