Keeping cool will cost more as energy price cap rises: More than half of UK homes exceeded 30°C indoors, tado° data reveals

As the new Ofgem energy price cap comes into effect tomorrow, households across Great Britain are facing higher electricity costs just as many are relying on fans and air conditioning to stay comfortable during increasingly hot summers.

Munich, 30 June 2026: From 1 July to 30 September 2026, the Ofgem energy price cap has increased to £1,862 a year for a typical dual-fuel household paying by Direct Debit – a 13% increase on the previous quarter, adding around £18 a month to the average household bill.

However, the price cap is based on a “typical” level of annual energy consumption and does not account for additional electricity used to cool homes during periods of extreme heat. Every extra hour spent running fans or air conditioning increases household electricity use and therefore energy bills.

New data from tado°, Europe’s leading home energy management company, highlights why many households are increasingly turning to cooling their homes.

Analysis of anonymised data from more than five million connected tado° devices across Europe found that 53% of UK homes monitored exceeded 30°C indoors between 26 and 29 June, placing the UK among the most overheated countries in Europe.

Only Belgium (66%), Luxembourg and Italy (62%), Germany (61%), Denmark (59%) and France and the Netherlands (56%) recorded a higher proportion of homes exceeding 30°C indoors.

Within the UK, the impact was greatest in southern England:

• London: 78% of homes exceeded 30°C
• East of England: 70%
• South East: 69%
• West Midlands: 67%
• East Midlands: 61%

The latest data also shows that the heat wasn’t just intense, it was humid. Indoor humidity levels reached 70% across parts of the UK last week, with some regions exceeding that figure. By comparison, during the hottest week of July 2025, indoor humidity levels were generally around 50%.

tado°’s smart thermostats and air conditioning controllers continuously monitor indoor conditions, including temperature and humidity, providing a unique picture of how homes respond during periods of extreme weather.

Christian Deilmann, Co-founder and Managing Director at tado°, said:

“Our data shows that the recent heatwave wasn’t just exceptionally hot, it was also exceptionally humid. What’s particularly striking is that the extra moisture in the air is more commonly associated with tropical climates such as the Amazon Basin in Brazil, Singapore and parts of Florida than a typical British summer. 

“For years, energy bills have been seen as a winter issue, but as summers become hotter and more humid, households are increasingly having to think about energy use all year round. The conversation about energy bills can no longer begin and end with winter. Keeping homes cool efficiently is becoming just as important as heating them efficiently.”

Tips to stay cool while keeping energy use under control

As households look to stay comfortable without unnecessarily increasing electricity use, tado° recommends:

• Use smart cooling controls. Solutions such as tado° Smart AC Control automatically optimise compatible air conditioners based on room temperature, occupancy and personalised schedules, helping to avoid cooling empty rooms or running the system for longer than necessary.
• Keep curtains and blinds closed during the hottest part of the day, particularly on south-facing windows, to reduce solar heat gain.
• Ventilate your home at the right time. Open windows overnight or early in the morning when outdoor temperatures are lower, then close them before the hottest part of the day.
• Reduce indoor heat sources. Limit the use of ovens, tumble dryers and other heat-generating appliances during peak temperatures.
• Cool the rooms you use most. Whether using a fan or air conditioning, focusing on occupied rooms can help reduce unnecessary energy use.
  

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Press Material

High-resolution images found here and here.

About tado°

tado° is Europe’s leading home energy management company, helping households take control of their energy use and cut costs - no matter what heating or energy systems they use. Founded in Munich in 2011, tado° combines  hardware, intelligent software and services into one easy-to-use platform.

tado° offers simple and efficient home climate management, intelligent electric vehicle charging, photovoltaic integration and dynamic energy tariffs  - all while automatically shifting electricity consumption to the cheapest and greenest hours of the day.

Our vision is clear: energy in sync with nature.

Press contact‍

Joanne Suwai
tado GmbH
Sapporobogen 6-8
80637 Munich
press@tado.com