Energy Bills and the Price Cap News: page 10
- November 2023
Citizens Advice published its response to the Ofgem consultation on an additional debt allowance
Citizens Advice has told Ofgem that its consultation on an extra debt allowance in the retail price cap does not show that current funding for debt-related costs is inadequate.
Which? warns cheap appliances can carry high running costs
Which? has published test-based annual running costs showing that some low-priced appliances, including a £7 kettle costing £50.74 a year to run, can cost more to run than the average model.
No repeat of universal £400 energy payment this winter
The UK Energy Research Centre says no repeat of last winter's universal £400 payment has been promised, with the price cap at £1,834 until 31 December.
Ofgem price cap set at £1,834 for winter 2023/24
Ofgem's price cap for a typical direct debit household stands at £1,834 a year until 31 December 2023, with the next level set from 1 January 2024.
Campaigners call on Chancellor for Emergency Energy Tariff and Help To Repay scheme
Health, poverty, housing and environmental organisations and academics have written to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt urging an Emergency Energy Tariff and a Help To Repay scheme for households in energy debt.
Coalition writes to Secretary of State urging leadership on prepayment meters scandal
The End Fuel Poverty Coalition has written to Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho urging a legislative ban on forced prepayment meters, an extension of Ofgem's ban to April 2024 and heightened monitoring of Scottish Power.
Forced prepayment meter moratorium lifted for compliant suppliers
The moratorium on forced prepayment meter installations, introduced in February 2023, was lifted from November 2023 for suppliers that met Ofgem's restart criteria.
Good Energy Default tariff rates change for non Direct Debit customers
Good Energy has ended the Direct Debit discount for non Direct Debit customers on its Default tariff from 1 November 2023, raising rates for those paying by other methods.
Government declines Emergency Energy Tariff and help to repay schemes in Autumn Statement
The Chancellor's Autumn Statement declined charity proposals for an Emergency Energy Tariff and ruled out a help to repay scheme, as Ofgem confirmed a 5% January price cap rise.
Ofgem launched a 'call for input' on standing charges
Ofgem opened a call for input on standing charges in November 2023, asking for views on the daily fees and possible alternatives, with responses accepted until January 2024.
Ofgem publishes statutory consultation on levelling standing charges
Ofgem has published a statutory consultation proposing to level standing charges between prepayment and direct debit customers, cutting bills for prepayment households by around £50 a year.
New prepayment meter rules extend protections for vulnerable people
Ofgem, Energy UK and the government set out new rules suppliers should follow from November 2023, adding checks before any involuntary prepayment meter installation.
- October 2023
Ofgem announces price cap fall for October 2023
Wholesale prices fell below the level of the Energy Price Guarantee, and the price cap was set to fall to £1,923 in October 2023, a Commons Library briefing has noted.
CREDS publishes preprint on energy impacts of cost-of-living crisis on British households
A CREDS preprint reports that British households used 8.4% less electricity and 10.8% less gas in winter 2022-23 than the winter before, yet still faced bills around £34 a month higher.
Ofgem announces energy debt at highest ever level of £2.6 billion
Ofgem has reported household energy debt of £2.6 billion, the highest level on record, prompting National Energy Action to call for a Help to Repay scheme and an enduring social tariff.
Ofgem opens policy consultation on additional debt-related costs allowance
Ofgem has opened a consultation on whether to add a temporary allowance to the price cap for extra debt-related costs, proposing a float from April 2024 and a later true-up.
Winter 2023 Voluntary Debt Commitment published by Energy UK
Energy UK, Citizens Advice and Ofgem have published a Winter 2023 Voluntary Debt Commitment, signed by fourteen domestic suppliers, setting out extra support for customers in payment difficulty from October 2023 to March 2024.
Ofgem reschedules wholesale cost review consultation and delays possible cap adjustment to April 2024
Ofgem has pushed back its follow-up consultation on wholesale cost allowances in the default tariff cap to late November or early December, delaying any cap adjustment to April 2024 at the earliest.
Energy debt question first asked in tracker at 8%
Consumer Scotland's energy tracker shows the share of Scottish households in energy debt rose from 8% in October 2023 to 19% in winter 2026, with total GB debt and arrears reaching £4.55bn.
Energy price cap reduced in October 2023
The energy price cap fell on 1 October 2023, cutting the maximum unit rate suppliers can charge on standard variable tariffs, before Ofgem confirmed a 5% rise for the following quarter.
flexi-2023 cost components change at 1 October 2023
ScottishPower has published revised third party cost components for its flexi-2023 variable tariff, showing the values applied to unit rates and standing charges from 1 October 2023.
Lower standing charges for prepayment households begin
From 1 October 2023 prepayment meter households pay lower standing charges than those on other payment methods, a change described by the Welsh Government as a welcome first step.
Ofgem confirms new debt engagement and repayment plan requirements
Ofgem has confirmed new licence rules requiring energy suppliers to offer debt repayment plans at the earliest opportunity and to base them on what a household can actually afford to pay.
Ofgem re-publishes price cap levels for cap period 11a under new 2023 TDCV values
Ofgem has re-published the October to December 2023 price cap levels using new 2023 Typical Domestic Consumption Values, putting the dual fuel direct debit cap at £1,834.
Quarterly change to Flexi variable costs from 1 October 2023
ScottishPower has published the Flexi variable cost values that apply from 1 October 2023, showing quarterly changes to network, environmental and smart meter charges across its regional tables.
Revised EBIT allowance methodology takes effect in the price cap
Ofgem has revised the profit margin allowance in the energy price cap to a fixed and variable element, and reissued the October to December cap levels on new consumption figures.
Scottish Power granted 124 forced entry warrants by Berkshire Magistrates Court
Scottish Power obtained 124 forced entry warrants from Berkshire Magistrates Court to install prepayment meters, with campaigners saying only 20 were examined in detail and asking a Commons committee to take urgent evidence.
Second £300 cost of living payment made to means-tested benefit recipients
The second instalment of the government's £900 cost of living payment, worth £300, was paid to households on means-tested benefits during October and November 2023.
Second Warm This Winter Tariff Watch report published
The second Warm This Winter Tariff Watch report finds 337 fixed tariffs priced above the Ofgem price cap, an average exit fee of £138 and supplier operating costs of £242 per customer.
UNC mod 840 change reduces prepayment cap level
Ofgem's October price cap methodology change equalising Unidentified Gas allocation between prepayment and non-prepayment customers cuts the prepayment cap level by £51, part offset by a £9 bad debt allowance.