This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58090533
The article has changed 114 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
Next version
Version 79 | Version 80 |
---|---|
What is the energy price cap and what will happen to bills? | What is the energy price cap and what will happen to bills? |
(21 days later) | |
Help with energy costs will be less generous from April, with bills for a typical household going up to £3,000. | Help with energy costs will be less generous from April, with bills for a typical household going up to £3,000. |
However, there will be more support for the most vulnerable. | However, there will be more support for the most vulnerable. |
The assistance provided to businesses will also reduce from March. | The assistance provided to businesses will also reduce from March. |
What extra support will be available? | What extra support will be available? |
From April, some groups across the UK will receive cash payments to help with energy costs: | From April, some groups across the UK will receive cash payments to help with energy costs: |
£900 to households on means-tested benefits | £900 to households on means-tested benefits |
£300 for pensioner households | £300 for pensioner households |
£150 to people on certain disability benefits | £150 to people on certain disability benefits |
Further details will follow. | Further details will follow. |
What help is the government providing with energy bills? | What help is the government providing with energy bills? |
What is the energy price guarantee and how is it changing? | What is the energy price guarantee and how is it changing? |
Under the current energy price guarantee, a household using a typical amount of gas and electricity would pay £2,500 annually. | Under the current energy price guarantee, a household using a typical amount of gas and electricity would pay £2,500 annually. |
The guarantee began in October, and was originally meant to last for two years, before the government said it would end in April 2023. | The guarantee began in October, and was originally meant to last for two years, before the government said it would end in April 2023. |
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt then announced the guarantee would continue, increasing by £500 to £3,000 from April. | Chancellor Jeremy Hunt then announced the guarantee would continue, increasing by £500 to £3,000 from April. |
Previously, the energy regulator Ofgem set the maximum suppliers could charge households per unit of energy. | Previously, the energy regulator Ofgem set the maximum suppliers could charge households per unit of energy. |
But after prices soared in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the government announced its price guarantee would replace this energy cap. | But after prices soared in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the government announced its price guarantee would replace this energy cap. |
Do I live in a typical household? | Do I live in a typical household? |
The £3,000 figure for a typical household is based on a direct debit customer using 12,000 kWh (kilowatt hours) of gas and 2,900 kWh of electricity a year. | The £3,000 figure for a typical household is based on a direct debit customer using 12,000 kWh (kilowatt hours) of gas and 2,900 kWh of electricity a year. |
A kilowatt hour is a unit of energy used to calculate your bill. | A kilowatt hour is a unit of energy used to calculate your bill. |
However, most households aren't typical. | However, most households aren't typical. |
Bills are based on how much energy you actually use, which depends on the number of occupants, the type of property and its energy efficiency. | Bills are based on how much energy you actually use, which depends on the number of occupants, the type of property and its energy efficiency. |
The price guarantee applies directly to all households in England, Scotland and Wales, with the "same level of support" available in Northern Ireland, which has its own energy market. | The price guarantee applies directly to all households in England, Scotland and Wales, with the "same level of support" available in Northern Ireland, which has its own energy market. |
Six tips for cutting home energy bills this winter | Six tips for cutting home energy bills this winter |
What is the National Grid doing to reduce bills? | What is the National Grid doing to reduce bills? |
A National Grid scheme running between November and March rewards households and businesses using less peak-time electricity. | A National Grid scheme running between November and March rewards households and businesses using less peak-time electricity. |
Customers need a smart meter to sign up for the trial, which will run on 12 "test days". | Customers need a smart meter to sign up for the trial, which will run on 12 "test days". |
People who don't use use high-energy appliances such as washing machines during a set hour of each test day will get up to £3 per kilowatt hour off their bill. | People who don't use use high-energy appliances such as washing machines during a set hour of each test day will get up to £3 per kilowatt hour off their bill. |
What help are businesses getting? | What help are businesses getting? |
Under the energy bill relief scheme: | Under the energy bill relief scheme: |
businesses get a discount based on a "government supported price" of 21.1p per kWh for electricity and 7.5p per KWh for gas | businesses get a discount based on a "government supported price" of 21.1p per kWh for electricity and 7.5p per KWh for gas |
organisations on fixed price contracts are eligible if their deal started after 1 April 2022 | organisations on fixed price contracts are eligible if their deal started after 1 April 2022 |
those on variable tariffs receive an automatic discount for each unit of energy used | those on variable tariffs receive an automatic discount for each unit of energy used |
the savings began to appear in November's bills (backdated to October) and are applied automatically | the savings began to appear in November's bills (backdated to October) and are applied automatically |
The scheme applies to all non-domestic energy customers in England, Scotland and Wales, with a parallel scheme in Northern Ireland. | The scheme applies to all non-domestic energy customers in England, Scotland and Wales, with a parallel scheme in Northern Ireland. |
Unlike domestic customers, businesses were only ever promised help for six months until March 2023. | Unlike domestic customers, businesses were only ever promised help for six months until March 2023. |
As expected, the government has confirmed that support for firms in the subsequent 12 months will be much less generous. | As expected, the government has confirmed that support for firms in the subsequent 12 months will be much less generous. |
Under the new scheme, firms will get a discount on wholesale prices rather than costs being capped. | Under the new scheme, firms will get a discount on wholesale prices rather than costs being capped. |
Heavy energy-using sectors, like glass, ceramics and steelmakers, will get a larger discount than others. | Heavy energy-using sectors, like glass, ceramics and steelmakers, will get a larger discount than others. |
The government said that the move was necessary to keep costs to the taxpayer down. | The government said that the move was necessary to keep costs to the taxpayer down. |
Firms fear ‘worst to come’ over energy bills | Firms fear ‘worst to come’ over energy bills |
Why have energy prices gone up? | Why have energy prices gone up? |
Energy costs soared because the conflict in Ukraine reduced supplies of Russian gas. | Energy costs soared because the conflict in Ukraine reduced supplies of Russian gas. |
Prices also rose because demand for energy rocketed after Covid restrictions ended. | Prices also rose because demand for energy rocketed after Covid restrictions ended. |
What help have people already had? | What help have people already had? |
All households are automatically getting a one-off £400 discount on their fuel bills, spread over six months between October 2022 and March 2023. | All households are automatically getting a one-off £400 discount on their fuel bills, spread over six months between October 2022 and March 2023. |
Households in Northern Ireland - which has its own energy market - will receive a single payment of £600 starting in January, more than in the rest of the UK because of the widespread use of heating oil. | Households in Northern Ireland - which has its own energy market - will receive a single payment of £600 starting in January, more than in the rest of the UK because of the widespread use of heating oil. |
Eight million low-income households who get certain benefits or tax credits have received £650 in two payments. | Eight million low-income households who get certain benefits or tax credits have received £650 in two payments. |
Pensioner households got £300 and some disabled people were paid £150. | Pensioner households got £300 and some disabled people were paid £150. |
This help was being partly funded by a temporary windfall tax on oil and gas companies. | This help was being partly funded by a temporary windfall tax on oil and gas companies. |
Vulnerable families can also claim help through the Household Support Fund, and the Warm Home Discount scheme. | Vulnerable families can also claim help through the Household Support Fund, and the Warm Home Discount scheme. |
Energy companies also run hardship funds, although the regulator Ofgem said most firms needed to do more to help struggling customers. | Energy companies also run hardship funds, although the regulator Ofgem said most firms needed to do more to help struggling customers. |
What can I do if I can't pay my energy bill? | What can I do if I can't pay my energy bill? |
Ofgem: Help with bills | Ofgem: Help with bills |
Related Topics | |
Energy customer switching | |
Ofgem | |
Personal finance | |
Energy industry | |
Cost of living | |
Oil & Gas industry |
Previous version
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
Next version