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Energy price cap: Typical energy bill set to rise £800 a year in October Energy price cap: Typical energy bill set to rise £800 a year in October
(about 1 hour later)
A UK household's typical energy bill is set to rise by around £800 per year, the energy regulator has warned. The typical household energy bill is set to rise by about £800 a year in October, the energy regulator warns.
Ofgem boss Jonathan Brearley said the energy price cap, which limits how much providers can raise prices, is expected to increase to £2,800 a year, due to continued volatility in gas prices.Ofgem boss Jonathan Brearley said the energy price cap, which limits how much providers can raise prices, is expected to increase to £2,800 a year, due to continued volatility in gas prices.
The warning comes after a typical bill rose by an unprecedented £700 in April.
Mr Brearley said the price rises were a "once in a generation event not seen since the oil crisis in the 1970s".Mr Brearley said the price rises were a "once in a generation event not seen since the oil crisis in the 1970s".
The Ofgem boss also warned that the number of people in fuel poverty could double, with 12 million households set to fall into such circumstances if October's expected rise happens. He also said the number of people in fuel poverty may double to 12 million.
A household is considered to be in fuel poverty if it has to spend 10% or more of its disposable income on energy. A household is in fuel poverty when it has to spend 10% or more of its disposable income on energy.
How high could my energy bills go?
Energy firms warn against extending windfall taxEnergy firms warn against extending windfall tax
The energy price cap is the maximum price per unit that suppliers can charge customers. The energy price cap already rose sharply in April to £1,971, meaning that homes using a typical amount of gas and electricity are now paying an extra £700 per year on average.
It has already risen sharply in April, meaning that homes using a typical amount of gas and electricity are now paying an extra £700 per year on average, but the more energy a household uses, the higher their bill will be. Mr Brearley told the business select committee of MPs that Ofgem was only part way through reviewing prices ahead of setting the next cap in October, but added: "We are expecting a price cap in the region of £2,800."
While Mr Brearley said that Ofgem was only part way through reviewing prices ahead of the next kit change due in October, he said: "We are expecting a price cap in October in the region of £2,800."
It means the typical household bill could rise by £800 per year.It means the typical household bill could rise by £800 per year.
Mr Brearley said that conditions in the global gas market had "worsened" following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has led to concerns of potential supply issues. Ofgem's price cap covers England Wales and Scotland. Northern Ireland does not have a price cap, but households have also been witnessing sharp price rises.
Mr Brearley said that conditions in the global gas market had "worsened" following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has led to concerns about potential supply issues.
'Interrupted supplies'
He warned that the price cap could rise beyond £2,800 if Russia - one of the world's largest exporters of natural gas - decided to disrupt supplies.He warned that the price cap could rise beyond £2,800 if Russia - one of the world's largest exporters of natural gas - decided to disrupt supplies.
"We are really managing between two versions of events," he said. "One where the price falls back down to where it was before, for example if there's peace in Ukraine, but one where prices could go even further if we were to see, for example, a disruptive interruption of gas from Russia.""We are really managing between two versions of events," he said. "One where the price falls back down to where it was before, for example if there's peace in Ukraine, but one where prices could go even further if we were to see, for example, a disruptive interruption of gas from Russia."
Europe is reliant on Russian gas and gets about 40% of its natural gas from the country, so sudden supply cuts could have huge economic impact. Europe gets about 40% of its natural gas from Russia, so sudden supply cuts could have a huge economic impact.
While the UK would not be directly impacted by supply disruption as it imports less than 5% of its gas from Russia, it is affected by prices rising in the global markets as demand in Europe increases. While the UK would not be directly impacted by supply disruption as it imports less than 5% of its gas from Russia, it would be affected by prices rising on global markets as demand in Europe increased.
"The price changes we have seen in the gas market are genuinely a once-in-a-generation event not seen since the oil crisis of the 1970s," Mr Brearley said. "The price changes we have seen in the gas market are genuinely a once-in-a-generation event not seen since the oil crisis of the 1970s," Mr Brearley told the Business select committee.
But the Ofgem boss apologised for regulatory shortcomings and admitted had financial controls been in place sooner for suppliers, fewer firms would have gone bust due to being unprepared for the sharp rise in wholesale prices.But the Ofgem boss apologised for regulatory shortcomings and admitted had financial controls been in place sooner for suppliers, fewer firms would have gone bust due to being unprepared for the sharp rise in wholesale prices.
We are all getting used to bill shocks when it comes to paying for gas and electricity - but this could be the biggest of all. Regulators do not usually give such early indications of the costs to come, which makes the seriousness of the situation all the more obvious.We are all getting used to bill shocks when it comes to paying for gas and electricity - but this could be the biggest of all. Regulators do not usually give such early indications of the costs to come, which makes the seriousness of the situation all the more obvious.
Some 23 million households have their domestic energy bill governed by the price cap. In April, they typically started paying £700 a year more. In October, according to Mr Brearley, it could be a further annual rise of £800.Some 23 million households have their domestic energy bill governed by the price cap. In April, they typically started paying £700 a year more. In October, according to Mr Brearley, it could be a further annual rise of £800.
The trouble is, the old way of tackling this is as a billpayer was to shop around for a better tariff. That option is no longer available. Analysts say the average price of the cheapest 10 fixed tariffs on the market is £3,685 a year - clearly a poor financial choice.The trouble is, the old way of tackling this is as a billpayer was to shop around for a better tariff. That option is no longer available. Analysts say the average price of the cheapest 10 fixed tariffs on the market is £3,685 a year - clearly a poor financial choice.
So that leaves people to budget and use savings as best they can, and leaves ministers under even greater pressure to offer more support, especially during the colder, darker, more expensive months ahead.So that leaves people to budget and use savings as best they can, and leaves ministers under even greater pressure to offer more support, especially during the colder, darker, more expensive months ahead.
In response to Ofgem's price cap forecast, Downing Street acknowledged that energy prices were a "significant challenge". Later on Tuesday, the Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng told MPs people will have to "wait and see what's forthcoming" from the chancellor and the prime minister on further help on energy bills as he said economic growth was the "time honoured way" to help people.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said some of the help from the government was "phased throughout the year". Mr Kwarteng said the government had put forward £9.1bn in support for energy bills, including council tax and energy bill rebates, and an extension of the Warm Home Discount. He added that the government had been waiting to see where gas prices were heading before making a decision on further assistance.
"Some of the support is designed to come in in October, £200 will be discounted from energy bills, the warm home discount will increase to £150 and be expanded to cover three million people, cold weather payments and winter fuel payments will be available again," he said. "What we see now isn't the full picture. Both the prime minister and the chancellor say there is more to do, and we have to see what is forthcoming", Mr Kwarteng told the committee.
He added the government was also "actively looking at what more could be done in this space". 'Wait and see?'
The Labour committee chairman, Darren Jones, asked the business secretary if he thought "bill payers are happy with that answer? Just wait and see?".
Mr Kwarteng acknowledged it was "a difficult time" and "people are under huge stress" but added that "nobody is suggesting that the government can pay the entirety of the energy bill".
"What we are committed to is giving support, and that's what we're doing," he said.
Asked by Mr Jones what he thought about the prospect of a one-off windfall tax on oil and gas companies, Mr Kwarteng said he didn't think it supported investment.
In response to Ofgem's price cap forecast, Downing Street acknowledged that energy prices were a "significant challenge", but said the government was "actively looking at what more could be done in this space".
Meanwhile, Labour's shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves questioned: "How many more alarm bells does the chancellor need to hear before he acts?Meanwhile, Labour's shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves questioned: "How many more alarm bells does the chancellor need to hear before he acts?
"The government have got to get a grip on this crisis and to protect families and our economy.""The government have got to get a grip on this crisis and to protect families and our economy."
Ms Reeves repeated her party's call for a windfall tax on oil and gas firms' profits to help lower bills for households.Ms Reeves repeated her party's call for a windfall tax on oil and gas firms' profits to help lower bills for households.
Recently, Shell reported a record £7bn profit in the first three months of this year while BP made £5bn, the highest for 10 years.Recently, Shell reported a record £7bn profit in the first three months of this year while BP made £5bn, the highest for 10 years.
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