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Type
Briefing sheet

The changing price of wholesale UK electricity over more than a decade

Date
24 April 2017

ICE has assimilated pricing data that relates to the generation and supply of electricity in the UK since 2003. It shows the roller coaster in energy prices in the system and increasingly extreme price spikes.

The changing price of wholesale UK electricity over more than a decade
A look at the wholesale price change.

Data relating to the generation and supply of electricity in the UK has been collated and summarised from two main sources: the Elexon website and the National Grid website.

Data for wholesale prices of electricity are available both for the current year and as an historic series going back to 2003.

Historic data is shown as volume weighted average daily prices for each year to 2003. Current year data is displayed as half-hourly prices on a month by month basis.

Wholesale electricity daily prices March 2003 - December 2016

Data displayed as volume weighted average daily prices derived from the half-hour data available on the Elexon website.

The 2003 electricity price ranges from £11-114/MWh with an volume weighted average of £19 /MWh.
The 2003 electricity price ranges from £11-114/MWh with an volume weighted average of £19 /MWh.

The 2004 electricity price ranges from £15-48/MWh with an volume weighted average of £22 /MWh.
The 2004 electricity price ranges from £15-48/MWh with an volume weighted average of £22 /MWh.

The 2005 electricity price ranges from £21-130/MWh with an volume weighted average of £38 /MWh.
The 2005 electricity price ranges from £21-130/MWh with an volume weighted average of £38 /MWh.

The 2006 electricity price ranges from £21-211/MWh with an volume weighted average of £40 /MWh.
The 2006 electricity price ranges from £21-211/MWh with an volume weighted average of £40 /MWh.

The 2007 electricity price ranges from £30-106/MWh with an volume weighted average of £31 /MWh.
The 2007 electricity price ranges from £30-106/MWh with an volume weighted average of £31 /MWh.

The 2008 electricity price ranges from £37-163/MWh with an volume weighted average of £70 /MWh.
The 2008 electricity price ranges from £37-163/MWh with an volume weighted average of £70 /MWh.

The 2009 electricity price ranges from £21-176/MWh with an volume weighted average of £38 /MWh.
The 2009 electricity price ranges from £21-176/MWh with an volume weighted average of £38 /MWh.

The 2010 electricity price ranges from £27-116/MWh with an volume weighted average of £44 /MWh.
The 2010 electricity price ranges from £27-116/MWh with an volume weighted average of £44 /MWh.

The 2011 electricity price ranges from £37-63/MWh with an volume weighted average of £49 /MWh.
The 2011 electricity price ranges from £37-63/MWh with an volume weighted average of £49 /MWh.

The 2012 electricity price ranges from £37-83/MWh with an volume weighted average of £46 /MWh.
The 2012 electricity price ranges from £37-83/MWh with an volume weighted average of £46 /MWh.

The 2013 electricity price ranges from £32-83/MWh with an volume weighted average of £52 /MWh.
The 2013 electricity price ranges from £32-83/MWh with an volume weighted average of £52 /MWh.

The 2014 electricity price ranges from £30-84/MWh with an volume weighted average of £44 /MWh.
The 2014 electricity price ranges from £30-84/MWh with an volume weighted average of £44 /MWh.

The 2015 electricity price ranges from £21-71/MWh with an volume weighted average of £41 /MWh.
The 2015 electricity price ranges from £21-71/MWh with an volume weighted average of £41 /MWh.

The 2016 electricity price ranges from £22-167/MWh with an volume weighted average of £41 /MWh.
The 2016 electricity price ranges from £22-167/MWh with an volume weighted average of £41 /MWh.

Data presented in actual values and in graphical form. You can also see monthly volume weighted average prices. This data is updated on an annual basis in January of the following year.

Download the document

Wholesale electricity prices 1 January 2017 – 31 December 2017

Download the data, presented on a half-hour basis for each month.

Wholesale electricity prices 1 January 2017 – 31 December 2017
Wholesale electricity prices 1 January 2017 – 31 December 2017

UK Generation Mix

The UK electricity generation fuel mix for January and February 2018 shows a noticeable increase in coal generation, possibly brought on by the extreme cold weather referred to as the 'Beast from the East, which brought a lot of snow and subzero temperatures from 24 February 2018.

  • Keith Tovey, energy science director