Energy cap rise adds to winter woe

ENERGY bills have gone up for many households, just as a series of cold health alerts were issued for much of the country.

- BY JOSIE CLARKE

The 0.2% increase to Ofgem's energy price cap started yesterday and will equate to a rise of about 28p a month for the average home in England, Wales and Scotland on a standard variable tariff.

This amounts to an average overall bill of £1,758 a year, up from the current £1,755.

However, on a more positive note, experts at Cornwall Insight reckon bills will fall by £138, or 8%, to £1,620 a year when the cap is next updated in April, thanks to measures announced in the recent Budget.