The energy price cap is alarming news for households, but for some, it's even more worrying as they may pay over £200 more than others purely due to the method they use to pay bills.
With gas prices 15 times higher this winter than two years ago, according to Ofgem, billpayers in Britain face a difficult winter. Those on standard direct debit tariffs face energy bills - based on normal usage - of the equivalent of £3,549 a year - before another steeper rise in January and possibly April.
But it's the poorest households who are likely to be hardest hit. According to End Fuel Poverty, lower-income households are often on pre-payment or pay-as-you-go energy meters. Those customers, Ofgem has confirmed, face a higher energy cap than those who pay by direct debit. Households who pay on receipt of their bill every three months will be charged even more.
