The Ofgem price cap rose 13% on 1 July 2026, pushing the standard unit rate to around 26p per kWh. For most households, that is a real and noticeable increase. But if you drive an electric car and charge at home on a smart overnight tariff, you might find that your monthly bill barely moved. Here is why, and why the case for a home EV charger has actually never been stronger.
What the July 2026 Price Rise Actually Means
The Ofgem standard variable rate now sits at roughly 26p per kWh. That is the rate most people pay for everyday home electricity use. Kettles, lights, appliances, and yes, EV charging if you simply plug into a standard socket.
But smart EV home chargers open the door to dedicated off-peak tariffs that the standard cap does not govern in the same way. Tariffs designed around home charging regularly offer overnight rates of 6.7p to 10p per kWh, applied to your charger during overnight windows (typically 11pm to 5am or similar). The July rise has not changed those rates in the same way.
At 7p per kWh, a 60kWh battery costs around £4.20 to fill from empty. That covers around 200 to 250 miles of typical driving. Compare that to petrol at around £1.45 per litre for a car doing 40mpg, which works out to roughly 16p to 18p per mile. The EV on an overnight tariff costs 2p to 3p per mile.
The Numbers Versus Petrol in July 2026
To make the comparison concrete, here is what a 10,000-mile year looks like across different charging methods:
- EV on 7p overnight tariff: roughly £200 to £250 per year
- EV on standard 26p rate: roughly £500 to £600 per year
- EV on public rapid chargers (65p to 85p/kWh): roughly £1,400 to £1,900 per year
- Petrol car at 40mpg: roughly £1,600 to £2,000 per year
The pattern is clear. Home charging on an overnight tariff is by far the cheapest option. Public rapid charging is approaching the cost of petrol for heavy users. And the July price rise has widened the gap between the standard rate and overnight tariff rates, making the case for getting a smart home charger even sharper.
For full per-mile cost comparisons updated for 2026, Regit's breakdown is a useful reference.
Why a Home Charger Is the Key Piece
Without a dedicated home charger, you cannot access the cheapest overnight tariffs. Most energy suppliers require a smart charger installed by an accredited installer to qualify for their EV-specific rates. A simple three-pin plug socket in the garage does not unlock those deals, and it charges far more slowly too (around 8 to 12 hours for a full charge versus 4 to 6 hours on a 7kW home unit).
A properly installed home charger from an OZEV-approved installer also lets you set charging schedules through an app, so you can set it once and the car charges itself overnight without any manual effort.
See the full home charging options from Plug In Stations and choose the right charger for your home and car.
The Grant Is Still Available Too
From 1 April 2026, the government increased the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant from £350 to £500 per socket. The scheme runs until at least March 2027. If you have not yet installed a home charger, that £500 comes straight off the cost of supply and installation. Details are on the GOV.UK grant guidance page, and you can check your eligibility via our OZEV grant page.
Make the Most of Home Charging
