Winter chill

26 million are facing bigger bills as watchdog raises energy price cap

- GRAHAM HISCOTT

ENERGY bills for millions of homes will rise in the depths of winter, it was confirmed yesterday.

Regulator Ofgem said its price cap will increase by £21 to £1,738 a year from the start of January for a typical customer paying by direct debit.

Households are still reeling from a 10% jump in the cap at the start of October. Another is forecast for April.

The latest increase will coincide with what are usually the coldest months of the year, when households are forced to use more heating.