Energy bills rise for 9m homes amid snow, wind and rain alerts

Nine million homes will face higher energy bills from today as Britain braces for freezing temperatures and snow warnings for the new year period.

- Jillian Ambrose

The average energy bill for households across England, Scotland and Wales will rise by 1.2% from New Year's Day to £1,738 a year for a typical household after the energy regulator raised its cap on gas and electricity charges.

The rising price cap is expected to pile pressure on household finances during the coldest months of the year when millions of homes have already racked up record levels of debt to their energy suppliers.

Britain will enter the new year with a series of weather warnings for heavy rain, wind and snow. By the weekend temperatures are expected to fall below zero across many areas, which fuel poverty campaigners fear will take a toll on the more than 8 million customers living in cold, damp homes.