Householders facing huge rise in energy bills

West Lothian householders are facing an increase of more than £200 to their energy bills after Ofgem announced the energy price cap will increase by 13 per cent in July.

- ROSS THOMSON

Advice Direct Scotland, which runs the national energy advice service energyadvice.scot, said the rise will be a “summer shock” for thousands of people struggling with payments.

Energy regulator Ofgem announced last week that the cap on what suppliers can charge will rise from £1,641 to £1,862 on July 1, on a typical annual dual-fuel bill.

This is a 13 per cent increase on the current level and will mean the average bill rises by £221 per year. Current forecasts suggest the price cap will rise again in October.