The consumer organisation Which? has said the new energy price cap will push bills up by 80 per cent from 1 October 2022 for households on variable energy tariffs1. The figure was published in a Which? press release dated 4 September 2022, part of its Money-Saving Monday series on the cost of living1.
Which? set out how the change feeds through to the running costs of individual appliances, based on averages across all the models it has tested in each category1. Its figures cover the period before and after the new cap takes effect:
| Appliance | Current annual running cost | From October 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Washing machine | Just over £63 | More than £117 |
| Heat pump tumble dryer | £56 | £104 |
| Condenser tumble dryer | £140 | £260 |
| Full-size dishwasher | £83 | £153 |
| Slimline dishwasher | £73 | £136 |
| Integrated fridge freezer | £73 | £136 |
| Freestanding fridge freezer | £84 | £155 |
| American fridge freezer | £120 | £222 |
| Built-in single electric oven | £66 | £122 |
| Single gas oven | £20 | £43 |
Which? also noted that a medium-sized household could save at least £100 a year by using smart heating controls, and cut the home's carbon emissions by 320kg per year, though it said savings depend on the efficiency of the central heating and on how the home was heated before1. On support schemes, it said the Warm Home Discount is available to pensioners and those receiving certain benefits, rising from £140 to £150 in October 2022, and that those born before 26 September 1955 can claim a Winter Fuel Payment of £100 to £300 per winter1.
Emily Seymour, Which? Energy Editor, said:
"Huge energy bill hikes are a cause of real concern for millions of households across the country, especially when many are already feeling the pressures of the cost of living crisis."
Which? added that while switching to a cheaper deal is usually the best way to save money, surging wholesale gas prices have cut the number of competitive deals on the market, so for most consumers staying on a deal with some protection through the price cap is likely to be the best option for now1.
Why it matters for households
For a home on a variable tariff, the cap level sets the maximum a supplier can charge per unit of gas and electricity and for standing charges, so the 80 per cent figure describes the effect on the average household rather than a fixed ceiling on any individual bill1. Actual bills depend on how much energy is used, which is why the appliance figures above vary so widely between categories and models1. The practical effect is that the cost of routine tasks such as laundry, dishwashing and refrigeration rises in step with the cap, and the gap between the most and least efficient appliances widens in cash terms. Which? also pointed to the role of heating controls in how much of the energy paid for is actually used to heat a home1. Households wanting to understand how the cap translates into their own bill can read our guide to energy bills and the price cap, and those weighing whether to move off a variable deal can compare options in fixed versus variable energy tariff.
What happens next
The new cap takes effect on 1 October 20221. Which? said it is publishing free money-saving advice every Monday over the coming months to help consumers manage the cost of living crisis1. No further announcement dates are given in the material.