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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Business
Sam Barker

Martin Lewis' MSE website explains when your energy bill direct debits will change

Martin Lewis has explained when your energy bill direct debits will rise after a hike in gas and electricity prices.

Energy prices rose from October 1, when the Government's Energy Price Guarantee came into force.

This freezes energy bills for the average household at around £2,500 a year, though many will pay more or less than this depending on their use.

The price freeze means the typical household will pay less for energy than the £3,549 a year that was predicted from October 1.

But it still means homes are facing higher energy prices than they were, with the average household paying £529 a year extra from the start of this month.

Around 80% of the country pays for energy using a direct debit, where cash is taken out of their account, normally every month.

The big question for billpayers is: when will I start paying extra? That all depends on your provider, Martin said in this week's MSE email.

Energy firms review their pricing every so often - normally at least twice a year. But that doesn't mean your energy bill direct debits will change straightaway.

Energy firms can review their pricing, then update your direct debits later.

Martin said: "Many firms are going through their customer lists to contact them about their direct debits.

"Yet different firms do it different ways, for example, British Gas and EDF won't automatically change 'em for all, so you might need to adjust it yourself."

This is when you might expect to see your direct debit go up, depending on which energy firm you use.

British Gas is the largest energy supplier in the UK (SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

British Gas

British Gas only reviews direct debits once or twice a year.

You can find out exactly when your reviews are by logging into your online account.

But a review does not mean your direct debits go up at the same time.

British Gas may prompt you to have a review at any point and ask if you want to amend your direct debit.

Bulb

Bulb has at least two reviews a year, as well as when prices change - such as October 1.

The firm is now contacting all its customers to let them know what their future energy bills will look like.

E.on Energy & E.on Next

E.on has reviews every three months, as well as when prices change.

It is now contacting its users to tell them about new direct debit prices.

EDF Energy

EDF only reviews direct debits every six months.

You can check when your next review is by logging in to your online account.

Any price change might not instantly affect your direct debits.

Octopus Energy

Octopus Energy reviews direct debits constantly - so you should know about your future energy bills very quickly.

Ovo Energy

Ovo carries out reviews four times a year - every three months.

It also carries out reviews when there are big increases or decreases to energy prices.

That means you will soon know what your new direct debits will be.

Scottish Power

Scottish Power reviews direct debits constantly in the background, and so you should see your direct debit change in the next few days.

Shell Energy

Shell reviews direct debit payments at least every three months.

The firm will let customers know their new direct debit payments soon.

SSE

SSE reviews its direct debits every six months and will always review them when it has announced new prices.

This means you should know your new energy bill payments in the next few days.

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