Energy price cap rise

The energy price cap is set to increase to £2,500 a year from 1 October 2022.

The cap is on the unit rate of energy used rather than a cap on your total energy bill. Therefore, your bill could be higher or lower than this depending on how much energy your household uses. Under the new cap the average household can expect to pay £2,500 a year.

Reducing the impact of the rise

There are things you can do to take control of your energy use, including:

• Managing your heating to cut waste and keep you warm. Bleed your radiators and make sure there’s nothing blocking them. You can use the controls on your radiator to turn down the heating in rooms you don’t use often.
• Preventing heat from escaping using draft excluders.
• Minimising hot water use by taking short showers instead of baths.
• Only boiling the water you need for hot drinks and for cooking. Keeping your pans covered when cooking will also help to save energy.
• Turning off appliances that aren’t in use. Leaving things on standby can use up unnecessary energy.
• Reading your meters regularly so you only pay for the energy you use. If you have a smart meter, your supplier should automatically know how much you’re using. You can call them to re-agree your direct debit amount if needed. If you don’t have a smart meter, make sure you regularly submit readings to your supplier.

Support to pay your energy bills

If you’re struggling to pay your bills help is available. The Citizens Advice detail the grants and benefits available to help you pay your energy bills on their website.