This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-60234732
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Millions brace as energy price rise to be revealed | Millions brace as energy price rise to be revealed |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Millions of people facing a spike in energy costs will find out how much more they will pay within hours. | |
| Ofgem's new price cap is likely to add hundreds of pounds onto the annual bill for 22 million homes - a key factor in the rising cost of living. | |
| The regulator's new cap for England, Wales and Scotland, to be announced at 11:00 GMT, will take effect in April. | |
| Ministers are reported to have plans to provide loans for energy firms to help them cut money from customers' bills. | Ministers are reported to have plans to provide loans for energy firms to help them cut money from customers' bills. |
| Analysts Cornwall Insight expect a typical household to face an annual increase of more than £600 on their energy bill, with a further increase of as much as £400 to come in the winter after the next cap is set in six months' time. | Analysts Cornwall Insight expect a typical household to face an annual increase of more than £600 on their energy bill, with a further increase of as much as £400 to come in the winter after the next cap is set in six months' time. |
| Among those braced for the squeeze on their finances is 24-year-old Michael Ball, from Kirkcaldy. | Among those braced for the squeeze on their finances is 24-year-old Michael Ball, from Kirkcaldy. |
| His biggest worry is that a significant rise could mean he would no longer be able to afford the rent on his one-bedroom flat, and would have to move back in with his parents. | His biggest worry is that a significant rise could mean he would no longer be able to afford the rent on his one-bedroom flat, and would have to move back in with his parents. |
| Michael Ball says he is anxious about the price rise | Michael Ball says he is anxious about the price rise |
| "Anything over a 30% rise in April would make me leave this flat. I'm already spending more than my rent on energy," he said. | "Anything over a 30% rise in April would make me leave this flat. I'm already spending more than my rent on energy," he said. |
| He said he was "very anxious" about the rise, and expected it to be a "big challenge". | He said he was "very anxious" about the rise, and expected it to be a "big challenge". |
| How the cap works | How the cap works |
| The cap, which is announced every six months, sets the prices that suppliers can charge for each unit of energy as well as the standing charge. | The cap, which is announced every six months, sets the prices that suppliers can charge for each unit of energy as well as the standing charge. |
| This is then translated into the expected annual bill for a household that uses the typical amount of gas and electricity. | This is then translated into the expected annual bill for a household that uses the typical amount of gas and electricity. |
| At present, that is £1,277, but analysts are predicting a 50% rise from April. | At present, that is £1,277, but analysts are predicting a 50% rise from April. |
| That does not mean there is a limit to how much people can pay. The more gas and electricity that is used, the higher the bill. | That does not mean there is a limit to how much people can pay. The more gas and electricity that is used, the higher the bill. |
| What's the energy price cap and why is it going up? | What's the energy price cap and why is it going up? |
| Anyone who is on a standard variable tariff, whose fixed deal has come to an end (or is about to), and those moved because their old supplier went bust will be affected by the new higher cap. | Anyone who is on a standard variable tariff, whose fixed deal has come to an end (or is about to), and those moved because their old supplier went bust will be affected by the new higher cap. |
| There is a separate cap for 4.5 million people on prepayment meters. It means a household using a typical amount of gas and electricity pays £1,309 a year. | There is a separate cap for 4.5 million people on prepayment meters. It means a household using a typical amount of gas and electricity pays £1,309 a year. |
| Energy firms are struggling under the weight of surging wholesale gas prices. The new cap will allow them to pass some of that cost onto customers. | Energy firms are struggling under the weight of surging wholesale gas prices. The new cap will allow them to pass some of that cost onto customers. |
| This video can not be played | This video can not be played |
| To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. | To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. |
| Why are UK energy prices so high? | Why are UK energy prices so high? |
| Joe Malinowski, founder of energy price comparison website The Energy Shop, said: "The energy price cap has already bankrupted over half of all energy suppliers in the market. Now it is set to bankrupt the consumer. | Joe Malinowski, founder of energy price comparison website The Energy Shop, said: "The energy price cap has already bankrupted over half of all energy suppliers in the market. Now it is set to bankrupt the consumer. |
| "Come 1 April, energy households up and down the country are set to get battered by colossal increases in energy bills. For many, if not most, it will be simply unaffordable." | "Come 1 April, energy households up and down the country are set to get battered by colossal increases in energy bills. For many, if not most, it will be simply unaffordable." |
| However, ministers are expected to announce a package of measures to reduce the immediate impact on households. | However, ministers are expected to announce a package of measures to reduce the immediate impact on households. |
| The plans are expected to include the Treasury's "rebate and clawback" scheme, which would involve providing around £5-6bn in loans to energy firms to enable them to lower bills from April - possibly by about £200. | The plans are expected to include the Treasury's "rebate and clawback" scheme, which would involve providing around £5-6bn in loans to energy firms to enable them to lower bills from April - possibly by about £200. |
| But it has raised concerns among providers because the money would still have to be paid back eventually by billpayers. | But it has raised concerns among providers because the money would still have to be paid back eventually by billpayers. |
| The cost of living is forecast to rise further this year, and the Bank of England will also announce on Thursday whether it will increase interest rates to combat rising prices. | The cost of living is forecast to rise further this year, and the Bank of England will also announce on Thursday whether it will increase interest rates to combat rising prices. |
| There are also planned tax rises in April, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson under intense pressure to scrap an increase in National Insurance. But he, and Chancellor Rishi Sunak, said at the weekend the tax rise would go ahead. | There are also planned tax rises in April, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson under intense pressure to scrap an increase in National Insurance. But he, and Chancellor Rishi Sunak, said at the weekend the tax rise would go ahead. |
| INFLATION: Why prices are rising so quickly | INFLATION: Why prices are rising so quickly |
| PETROL: Are we paying too much at the pump? | PETROL: Are we paying too much at the pump? |
| GAS PRICES: How can I protect myself from rising prices? | GAS PRICES: How can I protect myself from rising prices? |
| IMPACT: 'I'm so cold it feels like I'm sleeping outside' | IMPACT: 'I'm so cold it feels like I'm sleeping outside' |