A £64-a-month warning has been issued to UK households from January. Annual energy bills for a typical dual-fuel household paying by direct debit will be around £1,928. That’s an increase of around £94 a year, based on the current price cap unit rates – but experts say millions will effectively be paying £46 more for the January-March period than last year after the Government withdrew measures to help households with bills.
Richard Neudegg, of price comparison website Uswitch.com, said after the price cap change: “This rate increase will bite during the coldest period of the year when households need to use the most energy. Energy bills are likely to be the highest they’ve ever been for most homes this winter.”
He pointed out that, unlike last winter, high tariffs are not being offset by the Energy Bill Support Scheme, which gave households a £67 monthly discount on their bills. Responding the update, Stew Horne, Energy Saving Trust head of policy, said: “It’ll be difficult for many to know that energy prices are set to rise once again from January 1.
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“Despite easing slightly in 2023, the UK is still in the midst of an acute cost of energy crisis, as it has been for the past two years. Our over-reliance on volatile international fossil fuel markets underpins these high prices as well as the escalating climate emergency. In yesterday’s Autumn statement, we had hoped to see the UK Government commit to the large-scale energy efficiency and demand reduction solutions that we know will reduce energy bills, improve energy security and lower carbon emissions in the short and long-term.
“However, with no further commitment to support households to manage high energy bills, or improve the warmth and comfort of their homes, we know this winter and the months ahead will be challenging. Time is running out for this government to take much needed and long called for decisive action that will both bring energy bills down and help realise the UK’s net zero future.”
