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| Version 93 | Version 94 |
|---|---|
| Energy price cap: What is it and will bills continue to go down? | Energy price cap: What is it and will bills continue to go down? |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Millions will see their energy bills fall from 1 October, after a drop in the price cap, which limits how much suppliers can charge households for each unit of gas and electricity they use. | |
| A typical dual-fuel household will pay £1,923 a year between October and December - down from £2,074 in the previous period. | |
| What is the energy price cap? | |
| In recent years, the cost of variable tariff energy deals in England, Wales and Scotland has been controlled by the energy price cap, which is now set every three months by Ofgem, the energy regulator. | |
| The cap confirms the maximum price suppliers can charge households per unit of energy on a standard - or default - tariff in normal circumstances. It covers 29 million households. | |
| Energy prices soared after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, so in October ministers said household bills would be limited by a temporary government guarantee instead. | |
| Under this, a typical household's annual gas and electricity bill stayed below £2,500 despite Ofgem's cap increasing above this level. | |
| The Energy Price Guarantee finished in June 2023, and the Ofgem cap once again determines how much customers can be charged. | |
| From 1 October, typical bills will be £1,923, which is £151 less than the previous cap and £577 down on last winter. | |
| Energy is regulated separately in Northern Ireland, where bills are slightly lower. | Energy is regulated separately in Northern Ireland, where bills are slightly lower. |
| Warning winter energy bills harder to cope with | |
| What is 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 if I'm on on a prepayment meter? | |
| In July 2023, Ofgem said "around 4 million" households had prepayment meters. | |
| It reviewed their use after an investigation by The Times found debt agents acting for British Gas wrongly broke into vulnerable people's homes to fit meters. | |
| Under new rules, suppliers must give customers more opportunity to clear their debts, contacting them at least 10 times before installing a meter, and they cannot be installed at all in certain households. | |
| The government has promised to bring prepayment energy charges in line with those for direct debit customers, but this has not yet happened. | |
| Between October and December, the typical bill for prepayment households will be £1,949, down from £2,077, but still £26 more than for direct debit customers. | |
| Typical bills for those who pay via cash, cheque or bank transfer, usually every three months, will be £129 more. | |
| Will energy bills continue to go down? | |
| It is is impossible to tell for certain, not least because wholesale energy prices are affected by global issues, such as the war in Ukraine. | |
| However, energy consultancy Cornwall Insight forecasts that prices will rise again in January 2024. | |
| It estimates that typical annual bills will rise to £1,996. | |
| The consultancy does not expect energy prices to return to pre-Covid levels before the end of the decade. | |
| Will this mean the return of switching? | Will this mean the return of switching? |
| Lower prices should restart competition in the market, as suppliers start to offer fixed deals to customers, which set gas and electricity prices for a certain period of time. | |
| Unlike variable tariffs, these are unaffected by the cap. | |
| Consumer groups and regulators say this could be good for consumers, but warn that such deals do not suit all circumstances. | |
| If variable deals continue to fall in price, anyone already locked into a fixed deal would miss out on those savings. | |
| Those considering signing up for a fixed deal should also pay close attention to standing charges and exit fees, rather than just the headline rate. | |
| What extra support is available for energy bills? | What extra support is available for energy bills? |
| Some groups across the UK who may struggle to pay bills are receiving additional help through cost-of-living payments: | Some groups across the UK who may struggle to pay bills are receiving additional help through cost-of-living payments: |
| £900 to households on means-tested benefits - paid in three instalments in spring and autumn 2023 and spring 2024 | |
| £300 for pensioner households | |
| £150 to people on certain disability benefits | |
| Vulnerable families can also claim help through the Household Support Fund, and - from October 2023 - the Warm Home Discount scheme. | Vulnerable families can also claim help through the Household Support Fund, and - from October 2023 - the Warm Home Discount scheme. |
| Importantly, the £400 discount which all households in England, Wales and Scotland received last winter has finished. | |
| 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 |
| What help are businesses getting? | What help are businesses getting? |
| Until the end of March 2023, businesses had their costs limited under the government's Energy Bill Relief Scheme. | |
| Under a new scheme running until March 2024, firms get a discount on wholesale prices, rather than costs being capped. | Under a new scheme running until March 2024, firms 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. |
| Rising bills mean chip shop is not viable - owner | Rising bills mean chip shop is not viable - owner |
| 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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