Energy Bills and the Price Cap news
Is the price cap going up or down, and what does it mean for your monthly direct debit? Has Ofgem changed the standing charge or the rules on prepayment meters? Which suppliers have cut prices, and which have gone under?
Every energy bill and price cap story we have reported, newest first: cap levels, unit rates, standing charges, supplier news and help with arrears. Each one links to our guides on what it means for you.
- November 2026
Warwickshire County Council highlights energy cost support after latest price cap increase
Warwickshire County Council has urged residents to check available energy bill support, including emergency help for heating oil and LPG users, after the latest price cap increase took effect.
Welsh Government announces £130m cost of living support package
The Welsh Government has announced a £130m cost of living package for this winter, including a £100 energy payment for council tax bands A to D and a £250 payment for off-grid households on heating oil or LPG.
Ofgem energy price cap rises to £1,723 annually for typical dual-fuel Direct Debit households
Ofgem's energy price cap rose 4% on 1 October 2026 to £1,723 a year for a typical dual-fuel household paying by Direct Debit, a £60 increase, as Consumer Scotland and Energy UK warn of winter affordability pressure.
Ofgem opens investigation into ScottishPower backbilling and debt recovery practices
Ofgem has opened an investigation into whether ScottishPower met licence conditions on backbilling, support for vulnerable customers, ability to pay and fair treatment of domestic customers.
Energy Independence Bill introduced to Parliament
The government introduced the Energy Independence Bill to Parliament on 4 November 2026, setting out measures on gas standing charges, consumer protection, rented home efficiency and community stakes in renewable projects.
British Gas resumes force-fitting prepayment meters after Ofgem lifts four-year block
Ofgem has lifted a block imposed in February 2023 that stopped British Gas seeking warrants to force-fit prepayment meters, months after the supplier paid a settlement of more than £100m over the scandal.
- October 2026
Ofgem publishes phase 1 process evaluation of involuntary PPM rules
Ofgem's phase 1 process evaluation of the involuntary prepayment meter rules finds a 36% fall in severe self-disconnection and stronger protections, alongside supplier implementation problems and elevated household debt.
VAT cut on electricity bills extended to July
Chancellor John Healey has extended the VAT cut on domestic electricity bills to July, alongside a £100 winter payment for households in council tax bands A to D in England.
Autumn Budget 2026 announces Household Energy Payment, gas standing charge removal and Debt Relief Scheme
The Autumn Budget 2026 announced a £100 payment for eligible English households, asked Ofgem to remove gas standing charges from 2027, and set out debt relief for vulnerable households.
Coalition publishes reform package claiming 20% electricity bill cut by 2030
The Electricity Bills Taskforce, a coalition of suppliers, business groups, consumer advocates, academics and charities, has published eight reforms it estimates would cut household and business electricity bills by about 20% by 2030.
Wholesale gas prices peaked above 240p/thm in early trading
UK natural gas prices peaked above 240p per therm in early trading on 26 October 2026, as polling for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition found energy costs the public's top Budget priority.
E3G publishes report recommending 8 Essential Actions to lower GB electricity bills by 20% by 2030
E3G has published a report setting out eight actions it says could cut Great Britain's household and business electricity bills by about 20% by 2030, backed by 20 organisations.
Ofgem figures show £172 million in backbilling charges written off in 2024
Ofgem figures for 2024 show suppliers wrote off more than £172 million in charges for almost one million customers under backbilling protections, with around 11 million bills issued at least a month late.
Wholesale gas prices hit highest level since 2022
Wholesale gas prices reached 217p per therm on Wednesday, their highest since 2022, as Scottish Power's chief executive warned of a household energy debt "doom loop".
UK gas prices reach highs last seen in 2022
UK gas prices have risen to their highest level since December 2022, with wholesale costs approaching 200p per therm and gas unit rates up 27 per cent year on year.
Ofgem opens call for input on updating the price cap time-of-use methodology
Ofgem has opened a call for input on updating the time-of-use methodology in the energy price cap, with responses due by 20 November 2026.
Energy UK urges Burnham to act as bills forecast to surge
Energy UK has urged Andy Burnham to fund targeted bill rebates and a debt relief scheme, warning that typical household bills could reach around £2,100 in January.
Share Energy raises electricity prices by 12.6%
Share Energy has raised its standard 24 hour electricity tariff by 12.6% from 1 October 2026, adding £129 a year to the typical bill of its 41,000 customers in Northern Ireland.
Firmus energy raises Ten Towns gas prices by 8.98%
Firmus energy has raised regulated gas tariffs by 8.98% for 77,000 domestic and small business customers in the Ten Towns network area from 1 October 2026, its second increase this year.
Polling shows public concern over energy bills as gas prices rise
Polling for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation finds 28% of the public extremely worried about winter bills and 66% wanting more government action, as gas prices rose 27% year on year from 1 October.
SSE Airtricity raises gas prices by almost 19%
SSE Airtricity has raised gas prices by 19.2% for about 200,000 domestic and small business customers in the greater Belfast and west network areas, adding almost £172 to a typical annual bill.
Typical household gas bills to be 33% higher than in April from 1 October
Typical household gas bills will be 33% higher than in April from 1 October, about £200 a year, while electricity bills rise only 4%, according to Nesta analysis.
- September 2026
Household energy bills rise by 4%
Household energy bills rose 4% from 30 September 2026 under Ofgem's price cap, with gas bills up far more than electricity as wholesale gas prices reach their highest level since 2022.
Uswitch identifies cheapest fixed deal undercutting October cap
Uswitch data collected on 24 September identifies an 18-month Fuse Energy deal at £1,688 a year for a typical home, £35 below the October price cap.
Coalition sets out seven-point winter rescue plan for the Chancellor's Budget
The End Fuel Poverty Coalition has sent the Chancellor a seven-point Budget submission centred on writing off energy crisis arrears, as gas unit rates are forecast to double by January 2027.
More than 120 organisations call for levies to be moved off electricity bills
More than 120 organisations, coordinated by Energy UK and the Electricity Bills Taskforce, have written to the Chancellor urging that levies be moved off electricity bills and onto general taxation before the Autumn Budget.
UK wholesale gas prices hit four-year high
UK wholesale gas reached levels last seen in December 2022, approaching 200p per therm on 9 September 2026, while heating oil prices exceeded their previous five-year highs.
Tax information and impact note published on temporary VAT zero rate
HM Revenue and Customs has published the tax information and impact note for a temporary zero rate of VAT on qualifying domestic electricity in Great Britain, running from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027.
Firmus Energy Ten Towns tariff to increase by 9%
The Utility Regulator has confirmed a 9% rise in firmus energy's regulated gas tariff in the Ten Towns network, announced on 4 September 2026 after a review of the supplier's costs.
Scottish Government publishes fuel poverty scenario modelling for October to December 2026 price cap period
Scottish Government modelling estimates around 820,000 fuel poor households in Scotland, 32 per cent of all households, for the October to December 2026 price cap period, up around 20,000 on the previous quarter.