No-brainer to lock in energy deal

THE nation's energy bill headache isn't going away anytime soon.

- by Katie Elliott

The energy price cap — the maximum amount providers can charge per unit of gas and electricity — will nudge up by 2% in October. That means millions of customers will see bills rise for the third time this year.

Energy regulator Ofgem confirmed the increase last week, pointing to higher network operator costs and the expansion of the Government's Warm Home Discount Scheme, which will see millions more households receive the £150 rebate this winter.

A welcome boost for those struggling with their bills, yes - but spreading the wider cost across all households to pay for it is another questionable move from Labour. In pounds and pence, the cap increase will see the average bill for a typical dual-fuel household on a variable tariff climb from £1,720 to £1,755 per year.

Of course, how much you actually pay depends on how much energy you use, but the impact will be felt most sharply by households still on tariffs tied to the cap.