HOUSEHOLDS are being urged to take action now to stop huge energy bill rises this winter.
Energy analysts revealed yesterday that the energy price cap is expected to rise by 4% in October.
The energy price cap is set every three months by regulator Ofgem and is the maximum amount suppliers can charge per unit of energy.
Energy research firm Cornwall Insight said the increase would see the typical household facing a yearly bill of £1,729, up from £1,663.
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That’s an increase of £66 and it puts energy bills at the highest level in three years.
If you’re on a tracker tariff which rises or falls with the price cap, that means your bills will rise immediately in October.
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You may also be facing a big jump in monthly bills if you’re rolling off your tariff.
Uswitch is now calling for households to make a move NOW so they can avoid a big increase.
It suggests moving to a fixed tariff that’s below the current price cap.
You’re better off fixing right now rather than choosing a tracker tariff as the price cap is currently predicted to rise in both October and January.
The best fixed deals on the market right now are around 12% lower than the predicted price cap in October.
The cheapest is priced at £1,522 for a typical home – so that’s a saving of £207.
The deal is with independent supplier Fuse Energy, but there’s only hours left to lock in to it.
The Fuse Energy August 2026 Fixed (18m) V5 is an 18-month deal and it’s exclusively with MoneySuperMarket.
However it ends at 11.59pm today so you need to take advantage of it quickly.
Richard Neudegg, director of regulation at Uswitch.com, said: “Don’t suffer higher winter bills when you don’t have to – a decent fixed tariff beats these rates and protects you from further price rises.
“Every week spent on a standard tariff is another week paying higher rates than you need to.”
It’s worth using a comparison site to check which deals are available for your household.
Just remember that if you’re on a contract already, you may need to pay an exit fee to switch.
These can range from around £50 to £75, which could eat up any savings if you’re not careful.
What energy bill help is available?
There’s a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you’re struggling to get by.
If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.
This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.
If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don’t think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.
Several energy firms have schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.
But eligibility criteria vary depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000.
British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.
You don’t need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.
EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.
Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).
The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill.
Some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you’re struggling.
Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.
