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Energy price guarantee: What help is there for gas and electricity bills? | Energy price guarantee: What help is there for gas and electricity bills? |
(17 days later) | |
Energy bills for a typical household in Britain will remain at £2,500 until the end of June. They had been due to rise to £3,000 a year from April. | |
However, the £400 discount on bills which most households received this winter has come to an end. | |
What are the energy price guarantee and energy price cap? | What are the energy price guarantee and energy price cap? |
When prices soared after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the government announced a limit on the amount households could be charged for each unit of energy they use. | When prices soared after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the government announced a limit on the amount households could be charged for each unit of energy they use. |
This energy price guarantee means bills for a typical household for gas and electricity are about £2,500 per year. | This energy price guarantee means bills for a typical household for gas and electricity are about £2,500 per year. |
That maximum limit had been scheduled to rise to £3,000 a year from April, but the government announced that it would continue at the same level for the next three months. The chancellor says this will save the average family £160. | |
The guarantee is scheduled to be in place until April 2024. | The guarantee is scheduled to be in place until April 2024. |
Prices will then be controlled by the return of the energy price cap, which is set every three months by Ofgem, the energy industry regulator. | Prices will then be controlled by the return of the energy price cap, which is set every three months by Ofgem, the energy industry regulator. |
It confirms the maximum price suppliers can charge households per unit of energy on a standard - or default - tariff in normal circumstances. | It confirms the maximum price suppliers can charge households per unit of energy on a standard - or default - tariff in normal circumstances. |
Five tips for cutting energy costs this winter | Five tips for cutting energy costs this winter |
What if I'm on on a prepayment meter? | What if I'm on on a prepayment meter? |
As well as an extension to the energy price guarantee, the government has also promised to bring prepayment energy charges in line with those for direct debit customers. | |
This should save households about £45 a year on their energy bills from July. | This should save households about £45 a year on their energy bills from July. |
Call for customer evidence in energy meter review | Call for customer evidence in energy meter review |
Do I live in a typical household? | Do I live in a typical household? |
The calculations for a typical household are based on a direct debit customer using 12,000 kWh (kilowatt hours) of gas and 2,900 kWh of electricity a year. | The calculations for a typical household are based on a direct debit customer using 12,000 kWh (kilowatt hours) of gas and 2,900 kWh of electricity a year. |
A kilowatt hour is a unit of energy used to calculate your bill. | A kilowatt hour is a unit of energy used to calculate your bill. |
However, most households aren't typical. | However, most households aren't typical. |
Bills are based on how much energy you actually use, which depends on the number of people, the type of property and its energy efficiency. | Bills are based on how much energy you actually use, which depends on the number of people, the type of property and its energy efficiency. |
What extra support will be available? | What extra support will be available? |
The government has already announced that some groups across the UK will receive further help from April: | The government has already announced that some groups across the UK will receive further help from April: |
£900 to households on means-tested benefits - paid in three instalments in spring, autumn and spring 2024 | £900 to households on means-tested benefits - paid in three instalments in spring, autumn and spring 2024 |
£300 for pensioner households | £300 for pensioner households |
£150 to people on certain disability benefits | £150 to people on certain disability benefits |
What help is the government providing with energy bills? | What help is the government providing with energy bills? |
When will energy prices come down? | When will energy prices come down? |
In recent months global energy prices have been falling, and experts predict cheaper prices for households later this year. | In recent months global energy prices have been falling, and experts predict cheaper prices for households later this year. |
Analysts at Cornwall Insight think Ofgem's energy price cap will fall to £2,153 in July, and remain close to that level for the rest of the year. | Analysts at Cornwall Insight think Ofgem's energy price cap will fall to £2,153 in July, and remain close to that level for the rest of the year. |
That would make the government's energy price guarantee redundant by July. | That would make the government's energy price guarantee redundant by July. |
Cornwall Insight says at this point households might once again be able to shop around for more competitive energy deals. | Cornwall Insight says at this point households might once again be able to shop around for more competitive energy deals. |
What help are businesses getting? | What help are businesses getting? |
Up until the end of March, businesses had their costs limited under the government's energy bill relief scheme: | |
Under a new scheme, firms will now get a discount on wholesale prices, rather than costs being capped. | |
Heavy energy-using sectors, like glass, ceramics and steelmakers, will get a larger discount than others. | Heavy energy-using sectors, like glass, ceramics and steelmakers, will get a larger discount than others. |
Firms cut hours as government energy help scaled back | |
What help have people already had? | What help have people already had? |
Those in Northern Ireland are receiving a single payment of £600, more than in the rest of the UK, because of the widespread use of heating oil. | Those in Northern Ireland are receiving a single payment of £600, more than in the rest of the UK, because of the widespread use of heating oil. |
Eight million low-income households who get certain benefits or tax credits have received £650 in two payments. | Eight million low-income households who get certain benefits or tax credits have received £650 in two payments. |
Pensioner households got £300 and some disabled people were paid £150. | Pensioner households got £300 and some disabled people were paid £150. |
This help was being partly funded by a temporary windfall tax on oil and gas companies. | This help was being partly funded by a temporary windfall tax on oil and gas companies. |
Vulnerable families can also claim help through the Household Support Fund, and the Warm Home Discount scheme. | Vulnerable families can also claim help through the Household Support Fund, and the Warm Home Discount scheme. |
What can I do if I can't pay my energy bill? | What can I do if I can't pay my energy bill? |
Ofgem: Help with bills | Ofgem: Help with bills |
Related Topics | Related Topics |
Energy customer switching | Energy customer switching |
Ofgem | Ofgem |
Personal finance | Personal finance |
Energy industry | Energy industry |
Cost of living | Cost of living |
Oil & Gas industry | Oil & Gas industry |
Budget 2023 | Budget 2023 |
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