Households with gaming consoles face an annual charge of approximately £15.48 on their energy bills from April 1, according to estimates based on the new energy price cap. The cap, set by Ofgem, will decrease to 24.67p per kilowatt hour (kWh) for standard variable tariff customers paying by Direct Debit in England, Wales and Scotland.
This represents a 7% reduction from the current cap of 27.69p per kWh, which Ofgem attributes to government budget measures. Under the current cap, Citizens Advice estimates that a typical console used for an average of 1 hour and 26 minutes daily adds £17.40 annually to bills. From April, this will fall to £15.48, equating to roughly 4p per day, 30p per week, or £1.29 per month.
The figures assume active gameplay; leaving consoles on standby or charging controllers will increase costs. The estimates are based on average usage patterns from a MIDiA survey covering Q4 2024, which found console gamers play for 10 hours weekly. Real-world costs vary by individual usage and console model.
The new price cap will remain in place until June 30, with the next cap level announced on May 27. The daily standing charge will rise slightly from 54.75p to 57.21p.
