One million UK households face £324 million energy bill hike
Energy bills could rise by £324 million at the end of April as 56 fixed plans come to an end[1]
The hike affects 1.3 million homes, and could increase affected households’ bills by up to £319[2]
Consumers are advised to shop around for a fixed tariff deal, with a £234 difference between the best deals on the market and the energy price cap[3]
Uswitch.com offers bill-payers tips on how to find out if your plan is coming to an end and what to do next.
More than 1.3 million households face a £324 million rise in their energy bills at the end of April as 56 fixed deals come to an end[1][2], reveals new data from Uswitch.com, the comparison and switching service.
Affected households could see their bills rise significantly, by £244 on average, as they are moved automatically onto a Standard Variable Tariff (SVT), which are typically among the worst value deals on the market. Some customers could even see their bills rise by as much as £319.
The potential increased cost to consumers is the highest it has been since July 2019[4].
Energy bills have risen since Ofgem increased the price cap by £96 at the beginning of April, impacting the estimated 11 million people on standard tariffs.
With time running out until the end of the month when the 56 fixed plans come to an end, Uswitch is now urging customers to check the status of their current energy deal and take action now if their deal is due to expire.
There is currently a £234 gap between the cost of the best deals on the market and the £1,138 default energy price cap[3].
The cheapest deal currently on the market is the HUB Smart Choice Tariff 12 April 22 v1 tariff from HUB Energy at £903 fixed for 12 months — £234 cheaper than the default price cap.
Sarah Broomfield, energy expert at Uswitch.com, said: “The cost of not switching to a new plan when your deal comes to an end can be huge, and consumers could soon be spending as much as £319 more a year on their energy if they don’t take action.
“More than a million households will be on the receiving end of a shock increase in their energy bills from next month if they don’t act quickly.
“The good news is that it is simple to switch suppliers, and the process can take as little as ten minutes. You can also use our online guide to find out if your tariff is due to end and what to do next.”
Find out how you could save with Uswitch here.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Ross Stebbing
Phone: 07827 836 709
Email: ross.stebbing@rvu.co.uk
Twitter: @UswitchPR
Table: Best Buy fixed deals
| Supplier | Plan name | Tariff type | End date | Green | Exit fee | Average price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HUB Energy | HUB Smart Choice Tariff 12 April 22 v1 | fixed | 2022-04-30 | Yes | £60 | £903.45 |
| Utility Point | Just Up 21 12M Fixed Wk09 | fixed | 12m | Yes | £72 | £919.12 |
| Avro Energy | Simple and Super 12M | fixed | 12m | No | £0 | £920.26 |
| Green | Ray | fixed | 12m | Yes | £72 | £945.32 |
| Entice Energy | Fixed Saver v9 Online | fixed | 12m | No | £60 | £969.67 |
| E.ON | Fix 1 Year Exclusive Spring 2021 | fixed | 12m | Yes | £50 | £984.49 |
| Utility Warehouse | Green Fix 11 | fixed | 2022-03-31 | Yes | £50 | £988.96 |
| GOTO.Energy | In Control Green Mar 2022 V3 | fixed | 12m | Yes | £80 | £992.57 |
| British Gas Evolve | Energy Plus Home Protection v11 | fixed | 14m | Yes | £0 | £995.02 |
| People's Energy | People's Energy Fixed Tariff April 21 | fixed | 12m | Yes | £60 | £997.36 |
Source: Uswitch.com. Prices assume a household with medium annual consumption on a dual-fuel tariff, paying by monthly direct debit. To appear in this table, plans must be available in at least seven of the 14 regions. Prices correct as of 13/04/21
Notes to editors:
1. Source: Uswitch.com data, correct as at 13/04/2021. Total bill increase (£324,651,089) calculated by multiplying the increase per tariff by the number of households affected.
2. Source: Uswitch.com data, correct as at 13/04/2021. Prices assume a household with medium annual consumption on a dual fuel tariff, paying by monthly direct debit.
3. Source: Uswitch.com data, correct as at 13/04/2021. Average increase per household is £244.88 (total tariff increase divided by 1,325,740 total households affected).
4. Uswitch: £426 million energy bill increase as slew of tariffs end
About Uswitch
Uswitch is one of the UK’s top comparison websites for home services switching, including energy, broadband and mobiles.
More people go to Uswitch to switch their energy, broadband and mobile than any other site, and we have saved consumers over £2.7 billion off their bills since we launched in September 2000.
Free mobile app Utrack also helps households manage their home energy usage and make potential savings.
Uswitch is part of RVU, a group of online brands with a mission to empower consumers to make more confident home services, insurance and financial decisions.