Bills

Octopus Energy Offers Free Power During 12 August Eclipse

Octopus Energy is asking households to cut electricity use between 6pm and 8pm on Wednesday 12 August 2026 as the deepest UK solar eclipse since 1999 wipes out solar generation. Participants earn an hour of free electricity on Sunday 16 August.

11 Aug 2026 · 5 min read

Peugeot Confirms UK Pricing for Electric E-208 GTi From £34,995

Peugeot has confirmed UK prices for the electric E-208 GTi from £34,995, positioning its hot-hatch electric model well above the mainstream E-208 range and closer to premium EV hatchback pricing.

17 Jul 2026 · 3 min read

Dacia Cuts Spring EV Price to £11,990, UK's Cheapest Car

Dacia has cut the price of its all-electric Spring to £11,990 on the road, positioning it as the UK's cheapest new car and undercutting most petrol superminis as well as every rival EV.

17 Jul 2026 · 3 min read

Geely EX2 Electric Hatchback Confirmed for UK Launch

Geely's EX2 electric hatchback goes on sale in the UK in August 2026, priced to undercut most electric superminis, with PCP and HP finance expected alongside the usual manufacturer offers.

17 Jul 2026 · 3 min read

Hosepipe Ban 2026: Which Areas Are Affected and What's Banned

Cambridge Water and Affinity Water hosepipe bans became enforceable on 17 July 2026, joining South East Water and Anglian Water. Here is which areas are affected, what's banned, and what's still allowed.

9 Aug 2026 · 6 min read

Energy Drinks Ban 2027: What Parents and Retailers Should Know

The government confirmed on 16 July 2026 a ban on selling high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s from April 2027. Here is what it means for parents, what retailers must do, and how it fits with other child health measures.

17 Jul 2026 · 5 min read

Local Government Reorganisation: 14 More Areas Confirmed

The government confirmed on 16 July 2026 that 134 councils across 14 more areas of England, including Kent, Hertfordshire and Nottinghamshire, will become 38 unitary authorities. Here is what changes, when, and what's still undecided.

16 Jul 2026 · 5 min read

UK Heating Oil: Why Millions Depend On It, What Must Change

Around 4.4 million UK households are off the gas grid, 1.5 million on heating oil with no dedicated regulation. Why that gap exists, what a 92% price spike exposed, and what the CMA wants changed.

15 Jul 2026 · 11 min read

Council Tax 2026-27: Average Bill Rise and the New High-Value Surcharge Explained

Average Band D council tax in England rises to £2,392 for 2026-27, up 4.9%. New High Value Council Tax Surcharge on £2m+ homes under consultation, expected from April 2028.

14 Jul 2026 · 4 min read

Pay-Per-Mile Car Tax (eVED) for Electric Vehicles: What the Consultation Response Confirms

Government confirms pay-per-mile tax for electric cars from April 2028: 3p a mile for EVs, 1.5p for plug-in hybrids, no GPS tracking, on top of existing road tax.

14 Jul 2026 · 4 min read

BT Mobile is back, but only for BT Broadband customers

BT Mobile relaunched for new customers on 20 May 2026 after being closed since 2023, with 30-day rolling SIM-only plans from £9 a month. The catch: it is exclusively available to existing BT Broadband customers.

10 Jul 2026 · 5 min read

New fixed energy tariffs undercut the £1,862 cap by £316

A cluster of new fixed tariffs launched around the 1 July price cap rise to £1,862. The cheapest, a 24-month fix from Outfox Energy, undercuts the cap by around £316 a year for a typical dual-fuel household.

10 Jul 2026 · 5 min read

UK Power Networks Named Top UK Utility for Service

The Institute of Customer Service named UK Power Networks the UK's leading utility for customer service, alongside confirmed July 2026 sector leaders Nationwide, John Lewis, Jet2holidays and Jet2.com in banking, retail, tourism and transport.

9 Jul 2026 · 7 min read

Do You Need a Business Energy Tariff If You Work From Home

When a home-based business genuinely needs a separate business energy tariff in the UK, and when your existing domestic supply continues to apply.

5 Jul 2026 · 6 min read

Charity Energy Bills: The VAT Relief Many Charities Never Claim

How UK charities qualify for reduced 5% VAT and Climate Change Levy exemption on non-business energy use, and how to claim it if you have been overpaying.

5 Jul 2026 · 6 min read

Multi-Site Business Energy: Consolidating Contracts Across Locations

How multi-site UK businesses manage energy contracts across several locations, including consolidated billing, flexible purchasing, and bill validation at scale.

5 Jul 2026 · 6 min read

How Energy Brokers Are Actually Paid: The Commission Most Businesses Never See

How UK business energy brokers and third party intermediaries earn commission, why it is usually hidden inside your unit rate, and the questions worth asking before signing.

5 Jul 2026 · 6 min read

Regional Energy Price Cap: How the 14 Regions Differ UK 2026

The Ofgem price cap is a national average that splits into 14 regional caps. How regional unit rates and standing charges vary and why your postcode decides your rate.

5 Jul 2026 · 4 min read

Climate Change Levy on Business Energy: 2026 Rates and Relief

The Climate Change Levy adds a per-kWh tax to UK business gas and electricity. The 2026 main rate, who pays, de minimis exemptions, charity relief and CCA discounts explained.

5 Jul 2026 · 4 min read

Business Energy vs Domestic Energy: Key Differences UK 2026

Business energy differs from domestic: no price cap, no dual-fuel tariff, no cooling-off period, longer contracts and fixed switching windows. A plain-English comparison.

5 Jul 2026 · 3 min read

Is There a Business Energy Price Cap? UK Guide 2026

There is no price cap on business energy in the UK. Why Ofgem caps domestic tariffs only, how business rates are set, and what protects a firm from high prices.

5 Jul 2026 · 3 min read

Cheapest Energy Supplier UK: Every Active Provider and How Prices Compare (2026)

There is no single cheapest UK energy supplier: it depends on tariff type, payment method and meter. Here is every active provider and the factors that decide your actual price.

5 Jul 2026 · 7 min read

Andy Burnham's Property Tax Plan Would Replace Council Tax and Stamp Duty

Andy Burnham is reported to be examining a proposal to scrap council tax and stamp duty in favour of an annual property tax based on home value.

5 Jul 2026 · 2 min read

UK Telecoms Complaints Q4 2025: The Full Ofcom Data for Broadband, Mobile, Landline and Pay-TV

Ofcom's complete Q4 2025 telecoms complaints data by provider: broadband, mobile, landline and pay-TV, per 100,000 subscribers, with the reasons behind the rise.

3 Jul 2026 · 6 min read

What Happened to Shell Energy? Where UK Household Customers Ended Up

A primary-source explainer on Shell Energy's UK household business: the sale of its residential customer base, which supplier now serves those accounts, and what affected customers needed to check.

3 Jul 2026 · 4 min read

Utilita Energy Review 2026: Prepayment Specialism, Smart PAYG and the Complaints Picture

A primary-source review of Utilita in 2026: the supplier's prepayment and smart pay-as-you-go specialism, in-home energy usage tools, tariff structure, and how Ofgem and complaints data assess the supplier.

3 Jul 2026 · 4 min read

Trooli Review 2026: Another Rural Full-Fibre Challenger and How It Compares With Gigaclear

A primary-source review of Trooli in 2026: independent full-fibre broadband targeting underserved rural areas of southern England, coverage compared with Gigaclear, pricing, and how to check eligibility.

3 Jul 2026 · 3 min read

Gigaclear Review 2026: Rural Full-Fibre Broadband and Why It Reaches Where Others Don't

A primary-source review of Gigaclear in 2026: rural and semi-rural full-fibre network build-out, gigabit-capable speeds in areas Openreach has been slow to reach, pricing, and coverage-check advice.

3 Jul 2026 · 4 min read

Zen Internet Review 2026: Premium UK Broadband With the Strongest Complaints Record in the Market

A primary-source review of Zen Internet in 2026: independent UK ownership, premium fibre pricing, UK-based support, and the consistently strongest Ofcom complaints record among mainstream broadband providers.

4 Jul 2026 · 4 min read

Three Broadband Review 2026: 5G Home Broadband, No Landline Required and Where It Fits

A primary-source review of Three's home broadband in 2026: 5G-based delivery with no fixed line needed, simple plug-and-play setup, coverage dependent on 5G signal strength, and how it compares with fixed-line alternatives.

4 Jul 2026 · 4 min read