Confused.com updated its appliance running cost guide on 18 December 2025, setting out what individual appliances cost to run on standard variable tariffs and basing its average household figures on the price cap level of £1,7551.
The guide uses Ofgem consumption estimates. It states that "Ofgem estimates that an average British household uses around 11,500kWh of gas and 2,700kWh of electricity per year", which it puts at about 958 kWh of gas and 225 kWh of electricity per month1. It also gives Ofgem's low and high user figures: 7,500 kWh of gas and 1,800 kWh of electricity for a low user, and 17,000 kWh of gas and 4,100 kWh of electricity for a high user1.
On that basis the guide reports average annual dual fuel costs of £1,266.19 for a low user, £1,754.94 for a medium user and £2,469.79 for a high user, with monthly equivalents of £105.51, £146.21 and £205.811. It notes that the medium figure rounds to £1,755, the level of the cap, and that the cap "is set at £1,755 until 31 December 2025"1.
The appliance figures are given per month on a standard variable tariff1:
| Appliance | kWh per month | Cost per month |
|---|---|---|
| Air con (8 hours per day) | 492 | £10.48 |
| Electric heater (2 hours per day) | 60 | £2.28 |
| Tumble dryer (weekly drying, family of 4) | 48 | £12.82 |
| Washing machine (weekly wash, family of 4) | 36 | £2.84 |
| Kettle (15 minutes per day) | 24 | £6.85 |
| Fridge freezer | 17.2 | £5.39 |
| Games console (4 hours per day) | 21.6 | £0.51 |
| 43 inch LED smart TV (5 hours per day) | 10.7 | £0.83 |
| Laptop (5 hours per day) | 4.2 | £0.57 |
| Microwave (10 minutes per day) | 4 | £1.83 |
| Vacuum cleaner (2 hours a week) | 4 | £0.20 |
| Hair dryer (5 minutes per day, 4 times a week) | 3.33 | £1.50 |
| Lawnmower (once a week) | 3 | £1.01 |
| Hair straighteners (5 minutes per day, 4 times a week) | 2.46 | £0.05 |
It states that energy ratings changed in 2021 from A+++ to E to a scale running from A to G, and that the new scale currently applies to refrigerators, washing machines, washer-dryers, TVs, displays and dishwashers, with other products such as ovens and tumble dryers to follow when new or revised UK regulations come into force1.
Why it matters for households
Running costs per appliance are the part of a bill a household can most directly change, because they depend on how often a device is used rather than on the tariff alone. The guide's figures show the split clearly: heating and cooling appliances dominate, with air conditioning at £10.48 a month and an electric heater at £2.28, while standby-scale items such as a laptop or hair straighteners sit under £11. For a home weighing up appliance running costs, the per-item numbers translate the price cap into something measurable at the socket.
The consumption bands matter too. The gap between the low and high user figures, £1,266.19 against £2,469.79 a year, comes from usage rather than from the cap itself1. That is the distinction behind the typical household figure: the cap limits unit rates and standing charges, not the total a household pays. Homes that cut consumption, or shift it away from the most expensive appliances, reduce the bill independently of where the cap is set, which is the practical route to energy independence at household level.
What happens next
The guide's figures are tied to the cap level of £1,755, which it states runs until 31 December 20251. No further cap level or announcement date is given in the guide. The price cap history page tracks every level since 2019 and the announcement dates.