Kevin Peachey
Cost of living
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The energy regulator ofgem must publish its latest price ceiling, households that are expected to cope with another increase in gas and electricity costs in April.
The ceiling, which puts a limit on the amount that suppliers can charge for each energy unit, affects invoices of 26 million houses in England, in Wales and Scotland.
Analysts have planned a 5% increase in prices due to an increase in large costs paid by suppliers.
An increase would reach the finances of people at the same time as the increase in water tax and advice, although average wages also increase.
Third continuous increase
Households on default or variable rates are affected by the price ceiling, which is set every three months by OFGEM. The new ceiling comes into force on April 1 will be published at 07:00 GMT.
Although the cost of each gas and electricity unit is capped, the total invoice is not, so household invoices will vary depending on the amount of energy used.
The regulator illustrates the ceiling by showing the impact on the annual bill of a household with typical energy consumption.
Consultancy Cornwall Insight analysts, which are widely considered for specific predictions, have provided that a cleaning typical of gas and electricity will have £ 85 per year added to its invoice from April, bringing the annual cost to £ 1823 per year.
They said that the expected increase was the result of a colder time combination and a drop in gas storage levels across Europe, which has led to a significant wholesale price.
If an increase in the ceiling is confirmed, this would mean a third successive increase in energy bills, which has prompted other calls to consumers to go around for better agreement and for the government to intervene to help facilitate in difficulty .
“The burden of high energy bills has lasted long enough and as long as our energy bills remain linked to the cost of gas, households continue to be at the mercy of the world markets and the fossil fuel industry”, Simon Francis said, coalition of the end fuel poverty coalition.
“But in parallel with the transition of gas dependence, it is crucial to support vulnerable households struggling with energy costs and to invest in improving the energy efficiency of houses.”
A high price period means that households have collectively built a debt of 3.8 billion pounds sterling to suppliers.
The average household in the arrears owes more than £ 1,500 for electricity and £ 1,300 for gas.
Invoices are around 50% higher than pre-cook levels, but remain below the peak reached in 2022 when Ukraine’s large-scale invasion by Russia has caused an increase in energy prices.
The last announcement on the ceiling comes a few days after the regulator’s publication plans to offer a choice of prices which transfer standing costs elsewhere on people’s bills.
These fixed costs, which pay for the connection to gas and electricity, were controversial, but there was an immediate reaction against these plans.
How to keep energy consumption – and invoices – below
Experts shared three tips to keep energy consumption during the hottest months:
If your hot water is too hot to wash your hands, then your setting is too high, then turn the boiler at the bottom of your currents in the shower four minutes. Wateraid charity has compiled a four -minute song reading list to keep you time
Learn more here if you have trouble paying energy bills
