- The government's Home Energy Model uses 0.10 kWh per boil: 2.6p at 26.32p per kWh.23
- A 3 kW kettle, such as the Bosch TWK7403GB (rated 3000 W, now discontinued), uses 79p of electricity for every hour it is switched on: about 1.3p a minute.1
- Boil only the water you need: the cost follows the time it takes to boil.
- Last checked: 28 October 2026.
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- The government's Home Energy Model uses these as defaults for efficient new appliances: they are the “25th Percentile Energy Use” of permitted products, not household averages.2
Kettle or boiling-water tap?
A boiling-water tap keeps water hot all the time. Quooker's PRO3 installation guide: “Inside the tank the water is heated electrically to approx. 108°C and is kept at this temperature.” Its tank is 3 litres, rated 1600 W, with a standby power consumption of 10 W.5
10 W around the clock is 0.24 kWh a day: 6.3p a day, £23.06 a year, before any water is drawn off. That standby energy is the same as 2.4 kettle boils a day at the government model's 0.10 kWh each.
Safety, from the same guide: the tap is “fitted with a childproof double push-and-turn handle”, and “Incorrect use can lead to injury.”5
Who these figures cover
Costs use the Ofgem price cap average for England, Scotland and Wales, 26.32p per kWh by Direct Debit, 1 October to 31 December 2026. Your region and tariff change it.3
HMRC: “The temporary zero rate applies from 1 October 2026 to 30 June 2027.” The Budget on 28 October 2026 extended it from 31 March (announced; the legislation is due in early 2027). Gas stays at 5% VAT.4 In Northern Ireland, use the unit rate on your bill.