The price cap level will be lowered to ÂŁ1,923 from 1 October. If you're craving price certainty on your energy bills, run an energy comparison to see fixed deals that are currently available by entering your postcode below.
The price cap level of ÂŁ2,074 (lowered to ÂŁ1,923 from 1 October) is beginning to allow suppliers to reintroduce some fixed deals to the market, which is good news for 14 million households wanting to switch to a fix, according to Uswitch research. With the market still volatile, though, it's difficult to predict whether choosing one or sticking with a standard variable tariff will save you money in the long run. Consider your options carefully and stay up to date with energy market news to help you decide what to do.
Do consider exit fees. You may change your mind about your fixed deal and want to switch. If this happens after your 14-day cooling-off period, you might have to pay an exit fee. Not all tariffs have them but most do, so make sure you know whether yours does.Â
Do consider the length of the deal. Most deals are for 12 or 24 months. During this time the price cap could rise or fall depending on market conditions, so consider how long you would like to stay locked in for.Â
Do stay informed. Itâs important to keep a close eye on the market and run regular comparisons to see what deals are on offer. By signing up to alerts, you will be able to stay close to whatâs happening in the energy market and be informed when a good deal comes along.Â
Donât get a deal you can't afford. Make sure you can afford the deal you choose to take and do not feel pressured into taking one that you will struggle to pay for.Â
Donât just look at the direct debit amount. The price you pay through Direct Debit each month is usually based on the estimated amount you will use over a year and may not be the actual cost. Make sure you look at the unit price and standing charge so you can understand how much you will be charged for your energy usage and how it differs from what you are currently paying.
Find out more about fixing your energy deal here.
Wholesale gas prices significantly increased in September 2021 as a result of various factors combining to put pressure on supply and demand. This meant that there was a knock-on increase to the energy prices that customers were being charged by suppliers.
Ofgem ultimately announced that, due to the wholesale market situation, the level of the energy price cap would rise to ÂŁ3,549 per year for an average use household paying by direct debit in October 2022. It then increased again to ÂŁ4,279 per year.
Recognising the financial pressure that such high bills would put on households, the government introduced the Energy Price Guarantee, which froze energy prices at ÂŁ2,500 until the end of June 2023.
The price cap, which continued in the background, fell to ÂŁ3,280 in April 2023 and then to ÂŁ2,074 in July. This means the Energy Price Guarantee is no longer being used and the price cap is in effect again. The price cap level will fall again to ÂŁ1,923 in October.
With energy deals beginning to return to the market after two years, it's worth brushing up on how the process of comparing energy prices and switching energy works.
It's difficult to predict what will happen to energy prices in the next few months. Cornwall Insight, the energy analyst, predicts that the next energy price cap will be higher than it is now. That means that customers should start paying a bit more for their energy between January and March next year.
You can see the latest predictions below, along with context that should help you decide on the best course of action for you.
Annual cost for an average usage household based on new Typical Domestic Consumption Values | Annual cost for an average usage household based on old Typical Domestic Consumption Values | |
---|---|---|
Current energy price cap (1 July to 30 September 2023) | ÂŁ1,976 | ÂŁ2,074 |
Announced energy price cap (1 October to 31 December 2023) | ÂŁ1,834 | ÂŁ1,923 |
Predicted energy price cap (1 January to 31 March 2024) | ÂŁ1,932 | ÂŁ2,033 |
Predicted energy price cap (1 April to 30 June 2024) | ÂŁ1,868 | ÂŁ1,964 |
Predicted energy price cap (1 July to 30 September 2024) | ÂŁ1,822 | ÂŁ1,917 |
Ofgem sets the price cap based on Typical Domestic Consumption Values (TDCVs) which reflect householdsâ average energy use. When the price cap is reported as being ÂŁx per year, thatâs the annual cost of using the average amount of gas and electricity for an average household.
Until October 2023, the price cap is based on TDCVs of 12,000 kWh of gas and 2,900 kWh of electricity.
From October, these amounts will decrease to 11,500 kWh for gas and 2,700 kWh for electricity because customers have reduced their energy use over the past year.
This could be confusing because the price cap will look like it's dropped more than it actually has. As always, we advise customers to remember that, regardless of the price cap, the more energy you use, the more youâll pay. The less you use, the less youâll pay.
Ben Gallizzi - Uswitch Energy ExpertFixed deals are starting to return to the market but, if you're interested in signing up to one, it's important to check all the details before you commit. When you compare energy with Uswitch you can see all the information you need to judge whether a new deal could work for you, including unit rates, daily standing charges and exit fees.â
Compare prices from trusted UK business energy suppliers and get your next business energy deal in minutes.
With the cost of living crisis affecting households across the UK, you canât switch energy but you can still compare and save across Uswitchâs other products, including broadband, mobiles and insurance.
If youâve got a smart meter, Utrack is a free mobile app that connects to your smart meter and can help you track your home energy usage and help you find ways to use less energy to keep your bills as manageable as possible.
You can get:
Detailed insights about energy usage throughout your home
Daily, weekly, monthly and yearly reports and data
Energy-saving tips and advice.
If youâre struggling with your energy bills, there is help available. At the very least, energy suppliers are required to have plans in place to help customers who need it - these could include reducing or waiving payments for a while or switching over to a prepayment meter.
The normal winter discount schemes - the Warm Home Discount, Winter Fuel Payment and Cold Weather Payment - all continue to apply to those eligible.
The government has also announced a package of relief measures designed to help the most vulnerable.
These include:
ÂŁ900 for those on certain means-tested benefits to be paid in spring 2023, autumn 2023 and spring 2024
ÂŁ300 for pensioners (in addition to the Winter Fuel Payment) to be paid in winter 2023-24
ÂŁ150 for those on disability benefits to be paid in summer 2023
Financial help from the Household Support Fund (via local councils).
If youâre looking to switch energy, think about whatâs most important to you when running an energy comparison and choose the one that ticks those boxes - but make sure the deal itâs offering works for you as well.
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Ofgem announces a reduction in the level of the energy price cap, from ÂŁ3,280 to ÂŁ2,074.
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The government has announced that the Energy Price Guarantee, through which it keeps customers' energy bills at a lower level than they otherwise would have been, will be maintained at its current level until the end of June 2023.
With wholesale energy prices dropping and the Energy Price Guarantee due to stay at ÂŁ2,500, suppliers could imminently be in a position to offer customers fixed deals.
Ofgem has cut the level of the energy price cap from April, though it will remain higher than the government's Energy Price Guarantee.
Uswitch has announced the launch of its demand flexibility scheme, Utrack Money Back.
Uswitch research has shown that in the wake of high energy bills, more people are now arguing about energy use than they previously were.
Although the Energy Price Guarantee is protecting customers from big price rises, some have seen a small increase since the beginning of 2023.
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Author: Ben Gallizzi | Last updated: 18 September 2023