Energy Bills in Britain Will Rise by 4% in October
The regulator Ofgem says a typical home will pay £60 more each year.
Energy prices in Britain will go up.
The price cap will rise by 4% on 1 October.
A typical home will pay £60 more a year. That is £5 more a month.
The new price cap is £1,723 a year.
Gas from other countries costs more now. This is the reason for the rise.
About 11 million homes pay a fixed price. Their prices will not change.
Many people have energy debt. Suppliers say these people need more help.
Understood everything? Read this story at A2.
Ofgem Says Energy Price Cap Will Rise 4% on 1 October
A typical British household will pay £60 more a year, and the new cap arrives with the colder weather.
The regulator Ofgem has announced that the energy price cap will rise by 4% on 1 October. A household that uses a typical amount of gas and electricity will pay £60 more a year, or £5 more a month. The new cap is £1,723 a year.
Prices are rising because wholesale gas costs more. Gas bills are going up by 8%, but electricity bills are falling slightly because the government has cut VAT on electricity.
Around 35% of households, or 11 million homes, are on fixed tariffs, so their prices will not change. But 22 million homes in England, Wales and Scotland are on tariffs affected by the price cap.
The price cap sets a maximum price for each unit of gas and electricity, not the total bill. So a family's final bill depends on how much energy they use.
Suppliers say energy debt has risen very fast. Energy UK says people now owe about £6bn in total, and it expects about £7bn by the end of the year. Suppliers have asked for more help for people who cannot pay.
Understood everything? Read this story at B1.
Energy Price Cap to Rise 4% in October, Taking Typical Bill to £1,723
Ofgem says higher wholesale gas prices will add £60 a year to a typical household bill just as colder weather arrives.
Household energy bills in Britain will reach a three-year high after the regulator Ofgem announced that the price cap will increase by 4% on 1 October. A household using a typical amount of gas and electricity will pay £60 more a year, or £5 a month, taking the annual figure to £1,723 if the level was sustained for a year.
The increase has been driven by higher wholesale gas prices, which make up just over a third of a dual-fuel bill. According to Energy UK, the trade body for suppliers, the average price of gas has been 61% higher over the past three months than in late 2025. Gas bills are rising by 8%, although electricity bills are falling slightly because of the government's cut to VAT on electricity.
Neil Kenward, Ofgem's director general for markets, said a gap was opening up between gas and electricity prices for the second price cap in a row. He added: "Savings are available by choosing a fixed tariff, which are available at £100 or more below the October price cap." Around 35% of households, or 11 million homes, are already on fixed tariffs, while 22 million households in England, Wales and Scotland are affected by the cap.
The government said its VAT cut would save households £45, and that the warm homes discount would take £150 off bills for six million households this winter. Opposition parties said this was not enough. Shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho said the government had to "put cheap energy first".
Suppliers say energy debt has risen sharply, to an estimated £6bn, and have called for more support for customers who are struggling. Analysts at Cornwall Insight have forecast that prices may rise a further 9% in the new year.
Too difficult? Read this story at A2 or at A1.