Smart Energy Insights
Energy Insights
Thomas McGlynn • 28 August 2026

Daily Energy Market Report & Business Rates | Smart Energy Co

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SMART ENERGY
Daily Energy Briefing · UK
Friday, 28 August 2026
Settlement: 27 August 2026
Today's market read

Both gas and power near their highest in six months; geopolitical risk and supply tightness pushing prices up across the curve

Every gas and power contract moved higher this week. Sep-26 gas and power are now sitting at the top of the range we have held since March, and winter 2026 contracts have climbed 20%+ over the month. For anyone renewing in the next 12 months, the cheaper window that was open earlier in August has closed.

Direction today Gas and power firmer
Bigger picture Still well above 30 days ago
Key risk Geopolitical risk in strait of hormuz
Market pulse

The move, without the noise

Wholesale forward prices used as building blocks for supplier quotes — not the unit rate a business pays.

Source report: 28 August 2026
Settlement: 27 August 2026
Natural gas
Sep-26 forward · settlement
166.89 p/therm
Day ↑ 3.65% Week ↑ 3.51% 30 days ↑ 17.85%
Spot reference: 166.50 p/therm
Electricity
Sep-26 forward · settlement
133.10 £/MWh
Day ↑ 2.88% Week ↑ 4.61% 30 days ↑ 11.46%
Spot reference: 130.50 £/MWh
What matters

Gas and power are telling different stories

Short term: today's direction is set by the latest settlement.
Wider view: the 6-month charts below show where that sits in context.
For buyers: urgency should come from your contract end date, not from a claim about where today sits in the cycle.
Why prices moved

Forces pulling prices in both directions

A balanced view is more useful than a single prediction. These are the main influences in the latest report.

Pressure pulling prices lower

Stronger winds offering modest relief

Stronger winds across North West Europe are adding downward pressure on power prices by reducing the need for gas-fired generation. This is a temporary seasonal factor and should not be relied upon to persist.

Us liquefied natural gas supply rising soon

US liquefied natural gas output is forecast to rise in September, and seven vessels are expected to arrive at Dutch terminals over the coming week. This should help ease the supply picture, though it will take time to move the needle on European storage.

Risks that could push prices higher

Geopolitical risk in strait of hormuz

Hopes for a near-term reopening of the Strait of Hormuz have faded. Yesterday's reports of a temporary navigational corridor and ceasefire framework have not held market confidence; crude oil has risen 2% overnight as the White House confirmed no active talks are happening with Iran. The market is now pricing in an extended period of uncertainty around one of the world's most critical energy chokepoints.

Qatarenergy extends force majeure to october

QatarEnergy has extended its force majeure declaration through October, deepening concerns about liquefied natural gas availability at a time when Europe is already running low on storage heading into winter. This is a material tightening of the supply picture for the continent.

Norwegian maintenance removes supply

An unplanned outage at the Asgard field has removed around 7 million cubic metres per day from the market today. The broader maintenance schedule suggests further capacity losses are likely as September progresses, though the cycle should ease as the month advances.

European storage remains historically low

Storage levels across the continent are well below normal heading into winter, leaving the market acutely vulnerable to any further disruption. This is background that has been in place for weeks, but it remains the fundamental reason why the market is pricing in a risk premium.

French nuclear and hydro under pressure

River levels in France remain below normal, restricting hydroelectric output. A potential strike at the Chinon nuclear plant is expected to begin today, and outages continue at Gravelines 3 and Chooz. These constraints are keeping French power prices elevated and forcing greater reliance on gas-fired generation.

6-month direction

See the run-up — and where today sits

A single daily percentage can't show the trajectory. Each line tracks a rolling maturity — the near-term price, the next winter and the year ahead — across the last 6 months, so nothing breaks as individual contracts roll off. Hover for the value on any day.

Gas forward prices

Rolling maturities · p/therm

Near-term (Sep-26) Next winter (Win-26) Year ahead (Cal-27)

Each line is a rolling maturity — the near-term line always follows the current front month, so it never breaks as contracts roll off.

Power forward prices

Rolling maturities · £/MWh

Near-term (Sep-26) Next winter (Win-26) Year ahead (Cal-27)

Power tends to track gas; the chart shows how far the recent move has carried.

Your renewal window

Guidance grouped by how soon your contract ends

Timing urgency comes from your deadline; the market view comes from the forward contracts covering each renewal's supply period. Open your band for separate gas and electricity evidence.

Timing and value are different. Wholesale prices are currently rising. If your contract ends within three months, still get live quotes now — your decision window is shortening. Later renewals have more time to monitor the market.
1–3 months September–November 2026
Sep 2026 Oct 2026 Nov 2026
Get live quotes now

Gas is up 2.5–4.2% this week and up 13.6–22.6% over 30 days; electricity up 2.4–3.8% this week, up 8–17.4% over 30 days.

Evidence confidence Medium
Gas Near the top
Rising
This week Up 2.5–4.2% 30 days Up 13.6–22.6%
low 68.41 Win-26 · today ● 169.76 high

Evidence: Win-26, Sum-27, Nov-26, Q4-26, Q1-27, Win-27

Electricity Near the top
Rising
This week Up 2.4–3.8% 30 days Up 8–17.4%
low 71.62 Win-26 · today ● 138.50 high

Evidence: Win-26, Sum-27, Nov-26, Q4-26, Q1-27, Win-27

What this means

Your deadline creates the urgency. Use the current move to compare live supplier quotes now, but don't treat one falling day as proof the market has reached its bottom.

4–6 months December 2026–February 2027
Dec 2026 Jan 2027 Feb 2027
Review and compare

Gas is up 2.5–4.2% this week and up 13.6–22.6% over 30 days; electricity up 2.4–4.6% this week, up 8–17.4% over 30 days.

Evidence confidence Medium

⚠ December leans on Cal-27 only, so it has less seasonal visibility.

Gas Near the top
Rising
This week Up 2.5–4.2% 30 days Up 13.6–22.6%
low 62.66 Cal-27 · today ● 122.74 high

Evidence: Cal-27, Q1-27, Sum-27, Win-27

Electricity Near the top
Rising
This week Up 2.4–4.6% 30 days Up 8–17.4%
low 65.12 Cal-27 · today ● 103.90 high

Evidence: Cal-27, Q1-27, Sum-27, Win-27

What this means

Start reviewing the market and compare 12-, 24- and 36-month options. You have time for a considered decision, so weigh the certainty each term buys rather than chasing a perfect day.

7–9 months March–May 2027
Mar 2027 Apr 2027 May 2027
Prepare and monitor

Gas is up 1–4% this week and up 8.5–16.2% over 30 days; electricity up 0.3–4% this week, up 5.1–10.2% over 30 days.

Evidence confidence Medium
Gas Near the top
Rising
This week Up 1–4% 30 days Up 8.5–16.2%
low 57.84 Sum-27 · today ● 109.17 high

Evidence: Sum-27, Win-27, Q2-27, Sum-28

Electricity Near the top
Little changed
This week Up 0.3–4% 30 days Up 5.1–10.2%
low 59.74 Sum-27 · today ● 92.34 high

Evidence: Sum-27, Win-27, Q2-27, Cal-28

What this means

Get usage and site details ready, monitor the relevant forward contracts and use indicative quotes to understand the range. No need to force a decision while visibility is adequate.

10–12 months June–August 2027
Jun 2027 Jul 2027 Aug 2027
Plan ahead and watch

Gas is up 1–3.8% this week and up 8.5–16.2% over 30 days; electricity up 0.3–3.8% this week, up 5.1–9.3% over 30 days.

Evidence confidence Medium
Gas Near the top
Rising
This week Up 1–3.8% 30 days Up 8.5–16.2%
low 65.81 Win-27 · today ● 105.59 high

Evidence: Sum-27, Win-27, Sum-28

Electricity Near the top
Little changed
This week Up 0.3–3.8% 30 days Up 5.1–9.3%
low 74.51 Win-27 · today ● 92.00 high

Evidence: Sum-27, Win-27, Cal-28

What this means

Plan your procurement timetable and stay informed. Far-dated products can hide seasonal detail, so a firm buy-or-wait instruction would be false precision at this stage.

The honest read

Gas and power are not moving together. That makes any single read of the market less reliable.

And wholesale is only part of a quote — non-energy charges, credit, volume and shape all move the final rate. The practical decision is how much further movement your business can tolerate before its contract deadline.

If prices ease further

Wind, milder weather and diplomacy help

If the US and Iran move towards talks and the Strait reopens, or if French nuclear strikes are averted and river levels recover, the geopolitical premium could fade quickly. US liquefied natural gas arriving in September could also begin to ease the continental supply picture, taking pressure off prices.

If prices rise again

Low storage leaves little cushion

If the Strait of Hormuz remains closed or tensions escalate further, or if the Chinon strike extends and other French nuclear capacity is lost, European gas and power could push higher still. QatarEnergy's force majeure running through October means there is no near-term relief from liquefied natural gas, and low storage leaves little buffer.

Fixing buys budget certainty. It does not prove that a business has predicted the market correctly.

Check a live quote → Or call 0151 459 3388 · Independent broker since 2014
Market in numbers

The wholesale forward curve

Kept for readers who want the detail, without forcing every visitor through a dense table.

Open gas and electricity forward tables
Monthly, quarterly, seasonal and annual contracts
View data ⌄

Gas

p/therm
Contract Price Day Week 30d
Sep-26 month 166.89 ↑ 3.65% ↑ 3.51% ↑ 17.85%
Oct-26 month 168.49 ↑ 3.84% ↑ 4.07% ↑ 18.91%
Nov-26 month 171.65 ↑ 3.44% ↑ 4.08%
Q4-26 quarter 171.17 ↑ 3.51% ↑ 4.01% ↑ 19.04%
Q1-27 quarter 167.32 ↑ 3.37% ↑ 4.20% ↑ 22.57%
Q2-27 quarter 113.58 ↑ 3.01% ↑ 4.00% ↑ 15.01%
Win-26 season 169.26 ↑ 3.43% ↑ 4.10% ↑ 20.74%
Sum-27 season 109.17 ↑ 2.99% ↑ 3.78% ↑ 16.19%
Win-27 season 105.59 ↑ 2.76% ↑ 2.54% ↑ 13.57%
Sum-28 season 73.47 ↑ 1.56% ↑ 1.00% ↑ 8.49%
Cal-27 calendar 122.74 ↑ 3.08% ↑ 3.59% ↑ 16.01%
Cal-28 calendar 82.84 ↑ 1.92% ↑ 1.63% ↑ 11.45%
Cal-29 calendar 69.21 ↑ 1.32% ↑ 1.09% ↑ 6.07%

Electricity

£/MWh
Contract Price Day Week 30d
Sep-26 month 133.10 ↑ 2.88% ↑ 4.61% ↑ 11.46%
Oct-26 month 131.16 ↑ 2.23% ↑ 2.74% ↑ 13.64%
Nov-26 month 141.68 ↑ 1.92% ↑ 2.63%
Q4-26 quarter 138.00 ↑ 2.02% ↑ 2.80% ↑ 13.32%
Q1-27 quarter 137.33 ↑ 1.35% ↑ 3.64% ↑ 17.40%
Q2-27 quarter 94.79 ↑ 4.23% ↑ 4.04% ↑ 10.18%
Win-26 season 137.67 ↑ 1.69% ↑ 3.22% ↑ 15.29%
Sum-27 season 92.25 ↑ 1.52% ↑ 3.84% ↑ 9.28%
Win-27 season 92.00 ↑ 0.83% ↑ 2.36% ↑ 8.04%
Cal-27 calendar 103.77 ↑ 1.32% ↑ 4.57% ↑ 12.20%
Cal-28 calendar 75.30 ↑ 0.69% ↑ 0.32% ↑ 5.11%
Cal-29 calendar 69.21 ↑ 0.95% ↑ 1.40% ↑ 3.47%
Fixed-term choices

Contract length is a risk decision, not a forecast

No term protects against every outcome. Weigh the certainty the business wants against how soon it is willing to return to the market.

12

months

More flexibility if markets fall, but the business returns to the market sooner.

  • Shorter budget certainty
  • Earlier exposure to the next renewal
  • Useful where flexibility matters most
24

months

A middle ground between price certainty and revisiting the market.

  • Two-year budgeting
  • Less frequent procurement
  • Still allows a medium-term review
36

months

Greater certainty, but a longer commitment if markets later fall.

  • Longest budget protection
  • Reduced exposure to near-term shocks
  • Higher opportunity cost if prices drop
Source: SEFE Energy Daily Energy Report, 28 August 2026; latest settlement 27 August 2026. Analysis, positions and confidence are produced independently by The Smart Energy Company.
History basis: 161 distinct business-day reports from 5 January 2026 to 28 August 2026 (report dates; each carries the prior day's settlement).
Important: General market information, not a forecast or a recommendation to enter a particular contract. Where a renewal spans months only quoted as quarterly, seasonal or annual contracts, those coarser products are used. Actual supplier pricing depends on usage profile, network costs, levies, losses, credit and margin.