Cornwall Households Among UK’s Biggest Energy Users

Three postcode districts in Cornwall are among the top ten in the UK for electricity use and spending, according to a new study by Business Energy UK.

The report, based on the latest government data, reveals that homes in Truro (TR4), St Agnes (TR5) and St Austell (PL26) all use more than 4,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year and spend over £1,000 annually on their energy bills.

Truro Tops the Usage Chart

The TR4 postcode district, which includes areas around Truro, ranked 1st in the UK for electricity usage, with an average of 4,515 kWh per household per year. It also ranked 3rd nationally for electricity spend, at an average of £1,107 per household.

Nearby St Agnes (TR5) followed closely, using 4,484 kWh annually and spending £1,100 – ranking 8th in the country for electricity costs.

St Austell (PL26) came in 6th for usage with 4,450 kWh, and 9th for spend, averaging £1,091 a year.

Why Is Cornwall Using So Much Electricity?

Business Energy UK noted that homes in Cornwall have historically used more energy than the UK average. One reason is that many properties in the region are off the gas grid, meaning households are more reliant on electricity for heating and hot water.

You can view the full study here:
🔗 UK Postcodes That Use the Most Electricity – Business Energy UK

Energy Bills Still a Struggle in 2025

The study comes as households across the UK continue to grapple with high energy prices. The typical annual energy bill is now capped at £1,849, after the energy regulator Ofgem increased the price cap by 6% in April 2025.

“There is no getting used to this new normal for the people we try to help,” said Adam Scorer of National Energy Action, reacting to the rise. “Millions of the most vulnerable households are struggling with debt and severely rationing their heating.”

Despite the national price cap, regional differences in electricity usage and unit prices mean that bills can still vary widely.

What Else the Report Found

The study used Department for Energy data alongside regional energy rates from uSwitch to calculate average consumption and spending.

Other findings include:

• BD1 (Bradford) had the UK’s highest average electricity spend at £1,108

• N2 0BG (Bishops Avenue, London) used the most electricity overall, at 46,892 kWh annually

• The lowest spend in the UK was in WC1H (London), at just £357 per year

• Aberdeen had the lowest city-wide average, spending £534 per household

The data is accurate as of January 2025 and covers England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland was not included in the dataset.

📍 To see if your postcode made the list or to explore full data from the report, check it out on Business Energy UK.