UK Non-Commodity Charge · Smart
DCC Charges (Electricity)
Current rates, who sets them, and where they are forecast to go.
What DCC Charges (Electricity)is, who sets the rate, what the revenue funds, and where it's heading. Sourced daily from the Purely Energy non-commodity cost data hub.
DCC Charges (Electricity): what it is, who charges it, and what it pays for
What it is
The DCC Charges (Electricity) charge in plain English
Smart meter communications levy for gas meters. Covers the Data Communications Company's costs of connecting your gas smart meter to the wireless network. Rising as more gas smart meters are installed.
Introduced 2013 (Smart Meters Act).
Who charges it
The body that sets the rate
DCC (passed through by gas suppliers)
Unit
p/kWh
Applies to
UK business electricity
What it pays for
Where the revenue ends up
Smart meter communication infrastructure for gas metering
Published rate history
| Financial year | Rate | YoY change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | 0.00500p/kWh | - | published |
| FY2021 | 0.00600p/kWh | +20.0% | published |
| FY2022 | 0.00720p/kWh | +20.0% | published |
| FY2023 | 0.00850p/kWh | +18.1% | published |
| FY2024 | 0.00950p/kWh | +11.8% | published |
| FY2025 | 0.0105p/kWh | +10.5% | published |
Forecast trajectory
AI-assisted forecasts from our deep-research pipeline. P10, P50 and P90 are the 10th, 50th and 90th percentile outcomes; P50 is the central estimate.
| Year | P10 | P50 | P90 | Confidence | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | 0.0118 | 0.0123 | 0.0145 | med | Final year of current business plan with infrastructure investment completion |
| 2026 | - | 0.0115 | - | - | |
| 2027-28 | 0.0121 | 0.0127 | 0.0152 | med | New price control period begins with efficiency targets offsetting cost pressures |
| 2027 | - | 0.0120 | - | - | |
| 2028-29 | 0.0124 | 0.0131 | 0.0155 | low | Uncertainty around technology refresh requirements and charging methodology changes |
| 2028 | - | 0.0125 | - | - | |
| 2029-30 | 0.0125 | 0.0132 | 0.0156 | low | Smart meter penetration approaching saturation with stabilising cost base |
| 2029 | - | 0.0128 | - | - | |
| 2030-31 | 0.0125 | 0.0132 | 0.0156 | low | Operational efficiencies offsetting ongoing investment needs |
| 2030 | - | 0.0130 | - | - | |
| 2031-32 | 0.0122 | 0.0134 | 0.0146 | low | Speculative estimate based on assumed technology refresh cycle |
| 2031 | - | 0.0133 | - | - | |
| 2032-33 | 0.0122 | 0.0133 | 0.0146 | low | Placeholder assumption with no regulatory guidance beyond 2030 |
| 2032 | - | 0.0135 | - | - | |
| 2033-34 | 0.0125 | 0.0133 | 0.0152 | low | Steady-state operations assumption with significant uncertainty |
| 2033 | - | 0.0138 | - | - | |
| 2034-35 | 0.0125 | 0.0133 | 0.0152 | low | Long-term placeholder with potential for significant deviations |
| 2034 | - | 0.0141 | - | - |
DCC Charges (Electricity) FAQs
What is the DCC Charges (Electricity) charge?
Smart meter communications levy for gas meters. Covers the Data Communications Company's costs of connecting your gas smart meter to the wireless network. Rising as more gas smart meters are installed.
Who sets the DCC Charges (Electricity) rate?
The DCC Charges (Electricity) rate is set by DCC (passed through by gas suppliers).
What does DCC Charges (Electricity) pay for?
DCC Charges (Electricity) revenue supports Smart meter communication infrastructure for gas metering.
What is the current DCC Charges (Electricity) rate?
For financial year 2025, the published DCC Charges (Electricity) rate is 0.0105 p/kWh.
What is the DCC Charges (Electricity) forecast?
Our latest forecast for 2026-27 is 0.0123 p/kWh (med confidence). Final year of current business plan with infrastructure investment completion
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Rate data sourced from the Purely Energy non-commodity cost data hub (dh.purelyenergy.co.uk). Published rates come from statutory publications by the body listed above. Forecasts are AI-generated from published guidance and market trends; treat P50 as a central estimate and reference P10/P90 for sensitivity.