Energy bills are set to rise by £149 for the average household from October after Ofgem announced it would be raising its energy price cap. The new price cap figure will be £1,717 from October 1, up from £1,568 previously. The cap does not set the maximum a household will pay for their energy but limits the amount providers can charge them per unit of gas or electricity, so those who use more energy will pay more.
Jonathan Brearley, chief executive of Ofgem, said: “We know that this rise in the price cap is going to be extremely difficult for many households. “Anyone who is struggling to pay their bill should make sure they have access to all the benefits they are entitled to, particularly pension credit, and contact their energy company for further help and support.” He also urged consumers to “shop around” and consider a fixed-rate tariff that could save money.
Stephen Hankinson, energy efficiency expert at Electric Radiators Direct, has offered his advice on how best to save money this winter. Should I leave the heating on all day? Addressing the belief that it is more cost efficient to leave your heating on all day than turning it on when you need it, Stephen said: “Firing up your boiler and the initial stage of heating your home is the most energy-intense, and costly, period of the process. That has led some to speculate whether doing away with this and keeping the heating on all day – at lower temperatures – can reduce this cost.
“But – and there .