Consumer Energy Bills Set to Rise, Ofgem Confirms

Consumer energy bills are set to rise for households across the UK in the coming months, according to the energy markets’ regulator Ofgem.

A spokesperson for the regulator has confirmed to the BBC that the rising cost of wholesale energy prices “will feed into all customer energy bills in the UK”.

Current estimates suggest that a typical gas and electricity consumer can expect to see their bills increase by around £139 on an annual basis from October.

Unfortunately for users of pre-payment meters, the comparable increase is likely to be sharper still and worth around £153 per year.

People who pay for their energy via variable tariffs are sure to see their prices rising in the coming weeks and they are being advised to look out for cheaper deals that might be available to them if they were to switch supplier.

The consumer watchdog organisation Which? has also encouraged consumers to sign up for fixed tariff deals if they’re worried about seeing their energy bills increase suddenly.

Anyone struggling to pay their energy bills is generally advised to contact their suppliers sooner rather than later to explain their situation and to potentially establish a payment plan that’s more sustainable.

Ofgem has said its rules insist that gas and electricity suppliers treat their customers fairly, especially if they are finding it increasingly tough to settle their bills on time.

“We have put tough rules in place to ensure suppliers treat customers who are struggling with bills fairly, and welcome their commitment to reach out to those who most need help,” an Ofgem spokesperson told the BBC.

Despite these assurances, there are concerns that energy price rises will have a major impact on the circumstances of millions of households that are already in debt and struggling to get by financially.

Last month, the price comparison website uSwitch.com published research that suggested a £10 per month increase in energy bills would be enough to push close to seven million Brits into debt.

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