Energy prices are set to soar again in October as the price cap changes once more.
Experts have predicted that the staggering cap, set by regulators Ofgem, could rise as high as £3,359 for the average household. They then suggest a further rise to £3,616 could be on the cards in January 2023.
Uswitch have said that households already owe £1.3 billion to their energy suppliers two months before bills are set to soar by more than 80 per cent. New research by the comparison website suggests that the overall debt bill is already three times higher than it was a year ago and seems likely to grow further over the winter.
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According to its latest survey, some six million homes across the UK owe an average of £206 to their energy provider, up slightly from April when the same average debt was £188, according to the Daily Record. The survey showed that eight million households have no credit balances, meaning they have no cushion against the winter price hike.
Nearly one in five people (18%) said they are worried about their supplier forcing them to take a prepayment meter if they fall behind on bills, although 38 per cent said they did not know their supplier could do this. Uswitch strongly advises anyone behind on their energy bills, in danger of going into debt to speak to your provider as soon as possible.
Ms Miltienyte explained: “They should be able to help you find a solution, such as working out a more affordable payment plan. You may also find you are eligible for additional support such as hardship funds and other energy help schemes.
"The UK Government also needs to take energy debt seriously ahead of the winter - and a greater support package for vulnerable households needs to be agreed as a priority."
It’s worth noting that if you have a disability which means a prepayment meter wouldn’t suit you, your energy supplier should agree a repayment plan instead.
Otherwise you can complain that they’ve discriminated against you because they’ve failed to make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act. Find out more about this on the Citizens Advice website here.
There are two simple ways for customers to start saving immediately on energy bills:
- Turn down the flow temperature on your condensing combi boiler - doing this will allow the boiler to run more efficiently and could save around £200 off an average energy bill
- Turn off the pre-heat mode on the boiler - this will mean hot water taps take longer to heat up, but it could save hundreds of pounds a year
Households should also check they are not missing out on any additional financial support, the quickest way to do this is by using a benefits calculator.
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