TDCV

TDCVs give a common reference point when nobody knows a household's real usage. Ofgem publishes three levels, low, medium and high, for three meter types: single-rate Elec (Profile Class 1), multi-rate Elec such as Economy 7 (Profile Class 2), and gas. Ofgem uses the median, which stops a few very high users pulling the figure up, and adjusts the gas values to seasonal normal weather.

The price cap limits the unit rate and the standing charge. It sets no limit on the total, so a home that uses more pays more. Ofgem applies the capped rates to the medium TDCVs to produce its headline typical household figure. TDCVs also set the benchmark consumption inside the cap methodology. Ofgem reviews them every couple of years. Its latest decision, published on 27 May 2026, lowered every value from 1 July 2026 after a sustained fall in household use.

Key facts:

• Medium values from 1 July 2026: 2,500 kWh single-rate Elec, 3,400 kWh multi-rate Elec and 9,500 kWh gas
• Medium values from 1 October 2023 to 30 June 2026: 2,700 kWh, 3,900 kWh and 11,500 kWh
• Low and high values from 1 July 2026: 1,600 and 3,800 kWh single-rate, 1,900 and 6,100 kWh multi-rate, 6,000 and 14,000 kWh gas
• Medium gas fell by 17.4% and medium single-rate Elec by 7.4%

EnergyCode uses the TDCVs as the default domestic usage in the Pricing Engine, medium unless you pick another band, and quotes its price cap forecast on the 2,500 kWh and 9,500 kWh basis.