Energy bills are poised to rise again

THE energy price cap will rise by 2% from October 1 for a typical household in England, Scotland and Wales, despite falling wholesale prices, Ofgem has said.

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The regulator said wholesale prices were currently "stable" and had fallen by 2% over the past three months as it announced that the energy bill for the average household paying by direct debit for gas and electricity would rise from the current £1,720 to £1,755 per year.

However, standing charges - the figure consumers pay per day to have energy supplied to their homes - are set to rise by 4% for electricity and 14% for gas, or 7p a day, primarily driven by the Government's expansion of the Warm Home Discount.