When talking about gas and electricity, it is industry practice to 'group' energy users according to their energy usage. These groups were originally defined by Ofgem (the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets) and are referred to as 'high, medium and low' user groups.
A user group is defined by the amount of electricity and gas a person uses. Energy plans are priced to appeal to different user groups, for example, the cheapest energy plan for a low user may not be the cheapest plan for a high user.
Which user group do you fit into?
If you're not sure whether you're a high, medium or low user, then check our brief guide and see which group you might fit into. It's important to note that your user group can change as your circumstances change - for example, if your family gets bigger. Please note that our examples of an average user in each category are not definitive. When you run a comparison you should always use your own details to ensure you receive an accurate quote.
Low users
An average 'low user' is defined in terms of energy use, as using 1,650 kWh's of electricity a year and 10,000 kWh's of gas a year.
- Property - a small property, for example a 1 or 2 bedroom flat
- Occupiers - 1 to 2 people
- Lifestyle - employed full time, spends little time at home
- Usage - washing machine once a week, heating occasionally, no dishwasher/tumble dryer
Medium users
An average 'medium user' is defined in terms of energy use, as using 3,300 kWh's of electricity a year and 20,500kWh's of gas a year.
- Property - a medium sized property, for example a 3 bedroom house
- Occupiers - 3 to 4 people (example 2 adults, 2 children)
- Lifestyle - children at school, parents at work, everyone home in the evening
- Usage - washing machine a few times a week, regular heating, occasional dishwasher, TV and electrical appliances in the evenings
High users
An average 'high user' is defined in terms of energy use, as using 4,950 kWh's of electricity a year and 28,000 kWh's of gas a year.
- Property - a large property, for example a 4+ bedroom house
- Occupiers - 4 or 5+ occupants (large family or shared house)
- Lifestyle - occupants could be home on evenings and weekends, sometimes all day
- Usage - washing machine nearly every day, regular heating, regular dishwasher use, regular use of a tumble dryer, multiple TV's and electrical appliances used
What will your kilowatt hours get you?
If you can't place yourself into one of these categories easily, it may be useful to know what 1 kilowatt hour of electricity will run in your home:
- Kettle - boil 12 pints of water
- Washing machine - 1 cycle on 60 degrees
- 100w lightbulb - 10 hours
- Dishwasher - approx 1 cycle
Please note these are average figures, and the age and efficiency of your appliance will determine how much energy it uses. These figures were provided by the Energy Saving Trust.
Which energy plan should I be on?
When it comes to energy plans, it's important to know that one size does not fit all. The cheapest energy plan for your next-door neighbour isn't necessarily the cheapest plan for you, as your energy usage could be entirely different.
You should also remember that if your energy user group changes, the cheapest plan for you might also change. Compare gas and electricity prices online regularly and you can make sure you're always getting the best deal.