General Practice (GP) surgeries may not seem like heavy energy users, but due to medical equipment, long opening hours, heating demand in waiting rooms, and stringent requirements for refrigeration, lighting, ventilation, and hot water, they use more energy than many office-based businesses. This guide explores typical monthly energy costs, usage patterns, and what drives consumption in UK GP practices in 2026.
Typical monthly energy costs for GP practices
Most GP practices spend between £350 and £2,200 per month on combined gas and electricity, depending on building size, patient capacity, opening hours, heating systems, and equipment.
| Practice size/type | Electricity (kWh/month) | Gas (kWh/month) | Monthly electricity cost | Monthly gas cost | Estimated monthly total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small village surgery (1–3 GPs) | 1,000–2,500 | 1,500–4,000 | £210–£525 | £105–£320 | £350–£800 |
| Average suburban GP practice (4–6 GPs) | 2,500–5,000 | 4,000–9,000 | £525–£1,050 | £280–£720 | £800–£1,600 |
| Large urban GP practice or health centre | 5,000–8,500 | 6,000–14,000 | £1,050–£1,785 | £420–£1,120 | £1,500–£2,600 |
| Integrated clinic / multi-service centre | 8,000–15,000 | 10,000–22,000 | £1,680–£3,150 | £700–£1,760 | £2,400–£4,600 |
Assumptions used:
- Electricity: 21–24p/kWh, standing charges £0.50–£1.10/day
- Gas: 6.5–8.2p/kWh, standing charges £0.30–£1.00/day
- Opening hours between 40 and 75 hours per week
Typical unit rates and standing charges used in our GP practice cost examples
The monthly cost ranges for GP surgeries are calculated by applying typical UK commercial tariff assumptions (unit rates and standing charges) to the estimated kWh usage ranges for different practice sizes. This approach helps make the monthly cost estimates more transparent, because the total bill depends on both the per-kWh price and the fixed daily charges that apply even when energy usage is lower.
GP practices can appear “low energy” compared to factories or kitchens, but they often use more energy than many office-based businesses due to long opening hours, heating demand in waiting areas, and clinical requirements for refrigeration, lighting, ventilation, and hot water.
Electricity pricing assumptions (GP practices)
Electricity costs in GP practices are typically driven by lighting across public and clinical spaces, IT and admin equipment, medical refrigeration, and equipment such as sterilisers and examination lighting. In many surgeries, electricity makes up a large share of the bill because these loads run consistently throughout the week (and refrigeration is effectively always-on).
The cost examples use the following electricity pricing assumptions:
- Electricity unit rate: 21–24p per kWh
- Electricity standing charge: £0.50–£1.10 per day
Why electricity can be a bigger driver than expected: Clinical buildings often have extended lighting hours, continuous IT use, and temperature-controlled storage that must stay within safe ranges. Typical monthly examples for individual equipment loads include medical-grade fridges (around 80–200 kWh/month) and IT server racks (around 200–500 kWh/month), both of which contribute to a steady baseload even outside consultation hours.
Gas pricing assumptions (GP practices)
Gas costs in GP practices are mainly driven by space heating and hot water. Waiting rooms, corridors and consultation spaces need consistent comfort heating, and winter demand can rise significantly in older, less insulated buildings.
The cost examples use the following gas pricing assumptions:
- Gas unit rate: 6.5–8.2p per kWh
- Gas standing charge: £0.30–£1.00 per day
Why gas costs swing seasonally: Heating and hot water can account for roughly 35–55% of total energy usage in a typical GP surgery. Heating alone can add around £150–£850 per month, depending on building size, insulation quality, and how heating is controlled and zoned.
Standing charges and why they matter for surgeries
Standing charges are daily fixed fees that apply regardless of how much energy is used on a given day. For smaller practices (or those with lower summer usage), standing charges can form a noticeable part of the monthly bill, which is why they are included within the assumptions used to calculate monthly ranges.
Important note on real-world variation
Actual quotes and monthly costs for GP practices can vary materially depending on:
- Opening hours (typical examples assume 40–75 hours per week, and extended hours can materially increase lighting, ventilation and heating runtime)
- Building type and insulation (older converted buildings tend to be more heating-led; newer centres may be more electricity-led due to HVAC and ventilation)
- Ventilation and infection-control requirements (fans and air circulation can be a meaningful electricity load)
- Clinical equipment intensity (sterilisation, diagnostic tools, refrigeration volume, and IT infrastructure)
- Contract structure, region, meter setup, and renewal timing (all of which affect the unit-rate/standing-charge balance)
The figures above are included to show the pricing assumptions behind the cost ranges, rather than represent a guaranteed market rate for every GP practice.
Where GP practices use the most energy
| Energy driver | Typical share of usage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Heating and hot water | 35–55% | Waiting rooms, consulting rooms, treatment areas. |
| Lighting | 15–25% | Reception, corridors, offices, exam rooms, extended hours. |
| IT and admin equipment | 8–15% | Servers, PCs, printers, telephony, patient call systems. |
| Refrigeration (medical and vaccine storage) | 5–10% | Must maintain medical-grade temperature stability. |
| Medical equipment | 5–12% | Diagnostic tools, sterilisers, examination lighting. |
| Ventilation and air circulation | 5–12% | Required for infection control, especially post-COVID. |
Heating alone can add £150–£850 per month, especially in older or poorly insulated buildings.
Electricity-heavy vs gas-heavy GP practices
| Practice type | Majority energy use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Older converted buildings | Gas-heavy | Higher heating demand, less insulation. |
| Modern purpose-built centres | Electricity-heavy | HVAC, lighting, IT infrastructure, ventilation fans. |
| Large multi-service clinics | Balanced | High demand across both heating and medical equipment. |
Electricity typically accounts for 50–65% of the bill in most GP practices, rising to 70% in newer or air-conditioned buildings.
Energy usage by area of the building
| Section of practice | Typical monthly cost share | Key energy components |
|---|---|---|
| Reception & waiting areas | 25–40% | Heating, lighting, IT, ventilation |
| Consultation rooms | 15–25% | Heating, lighting, diagnostic tools |
| Treatment/minor surgery rooms | 10–20% | Equipment, lighting, sterilisation |
| Staff/admin offices | 10–15% | Computers, printing, lighting |
| Vaccine refrigeration | 5–8% | Medical cooling systems |
| Common areas (corridors, toilets, kitchen) | 5–10% | Lighting, hot water, ventilation |
Medical refrigerators typically consume 80–200 kWh per month, costing £17–£48, depending on cooling technology.
Example equipment energy usage in GP surgeries
| Equipment | Energy usage (approx) | Estimated monthly cost |
|---|---|---|
| Medical-grade refrigerator | 80–200 kWh/month | £17–£48 |
| Autoclave steriliser | 150–300 kWh/month | £32–£72 |
| Examination lighting | 0.2–0.5 kWh/h | £0.05–£0.12/h |
| IT server rack | 200–500 kWh/month | £42–£110 |
| Space heating (gas boiler) | 4,000–12,000 kWh/month | £280–£900 |
How to calculate a GP practice’s energy bill
- Multiply electricity usage by your tariff:
Example: 3,000 kWh × 23p = £690 - Multiply gas usage by gas rate:
Example: 5,000 kWh × 7p = £350 - Add standing charges and VAT (most pay 20%)
- Total monthly estimate: £1,040 (plus VAT and CCL)
How GP practices can reduce energy costs
- Install LED lighting – can reduce lighting use by 30–55%.
- Use zoned heating – reducing heating use by 15–25%.
- Replace old boilers with condensing or air source heat pumps.
- Monitor vaccine fridge performance to prevent energy leakage.
- Install motion sensors in low-traffic areas (corridors, toilets).
- Compare business energy tariffs using EnergyCosts.co.uk — practices switching from variable to fixed rates often save 10–22%.
Summary
GP practices typically spend £350 to £2,200 per month on energy, with heating and lighting being the biggest contributors. Electricity demand is driven by lighting, refrigeration, IT systems, and medical equipment. Gas demand spikes in winter due to heating requirements. With efficient lighting, heating controls, and tariff optimisation, GP practices can reduce energy costs significantly without compromising patient care standards.
FAQ
A small surgery with one to three GPs usually spends £350 to £800 per month on combined gas and electricity, depending on building insulation, patient capacity, and working hours.
Most GP practices use more gas in winter due to heating demand, but electricity typically makes up 50–65% of total energy cost, driven by lighting, IT equipment, medical refrigeration, and examination tools.
Heating and hot water are the largest contributors, often accounting for 35–55% of total usage. Lighting, IT servers, refrigeration, and sterilisation equipment are also significant energy users.
Medical-grade vaccine fridges typically use 80–200 kWh per month, costing between £17 and £48, depending on size, location, and operating hours.
An average suburban practice with four to six GPs typically spends £800 to £1,600 per month, with electricity costs ranging from £525 to £1,050 and gas costs from £280 to £720.
Yes. Practices open for extended hours (evenings or weekends) can use 15–25% more energy, especially for lighting, heating, IT systems, and ventilation.
Yes. Switching to LED lighting, zoning heating areas, upgrading insulation, reducing thermostat settings by 1–2°C, and using motion sensors can reduce energy usage by 10–25% without major investment.
Heating alone can cost between £150 and £850 per month, depending on building size, heating system efficiency, and seasonal demand.
Absolutely. Practices moving from standard or out-of-contract tariffs to fixed commercial contracts often save 10–22%, particularly when comparing tariffs through EnergyCosts.co.uk.
Not always. Modern buildings may be better insulated but tend to use more ventilation, HVAC systems, and IT infrastructure, which can increase electricity usage instead of reducing overall energy expenditure.