Typical care home energy consumption
Consumption scales with bed count, building age and whether the home has specialist facilities such as hydrotherapy pools or extensive laundry provision.
| Care home size | Electricity (kWh/yr) | Gas (kWh/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 30 beds) | 100,000 - 180,000 | 120,000 - 220,000 |
| Medium (30-60 beds) | 180,000 - 350,000 | 220,000 - 400,000 |
| Large (60+ beds, on-site laundry) | 350,000 - 600,000+ | 400,000 - 700,000+ |
What drives the cost
- Space heating maintained at higher-than-typical temperatures around the clock
- Continuous hot water for washing and hygiene requirements
- On-site laundry facilities processing bedding and linen daily
- Kitchen operations providing meals throughout the day
- Emergency lighting, nurse call systems and medical equipment running continuously
Gas versus electricity split
Gas typically represents the larger share of total energy spend in care homes with gas-fired heating and hot water systems, often 55 to 65 percent of the total, reflecting the scale of heating demand required to meet resident comfort and regulatory standards.
Continuous demand profile
Because residents live on site permanently, care homes see minimal variation between day and night or weekday and weekend demand. This flat profile differs from most commercial sectors and should be factored into how consumption is estimated for contract quotes.
Compare business energy prices
Enter your postcode and business details to compare available commercial energy prices.
Standing charges and metering
Larger care homes often qualify for half-hourly electricity metering given their consistent high demand. Standing charges tend to be higher than average, reflecting the substantial connection capacity needed for heating, laundry and catering running simultaneously at all hours.
Contract length and renewal timing
Two to three year fixed contracts are common in the sector, supporting stable budgeting for an operationally continuous business. Renewal quotes should be sought at least 4 to 6 months ahead of expiry given the scale of consumption and the value of securing competitive rates.
How to compare care home energy prices
- Provide a full year of consumption data reflecting continuous 24-hour operation
- Confirm whether laundry and catering are on separate meters
- Check eligibility for half-hourly settlement if not already in place
- Compare gas rates carefully given gas typically makes up the larger cost share