Energy & Bills

Energy Price Cap Explained: Current Rates and Next Change

The energy price cap limits what suppliers can charge per unit of gas and electricity on a standard variable tariff. For a typical dual-fuel Direct Debit household it is £1,663 a year from 1 July to 30 September 2026. Ofgem reviews it quarterly; the October cap is due by 26 August 2026.

5 Aug 2026 · 7 min read

Warm Home Discount: Check Your Bill Before 23 August

Around six million households qualify for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, but you must be named on your electricity bill by 23 August 2026 to get it automatically. Who is eligible, the trap that catches recent movers, and what else is changing on bills.

31 Jul 2026 · 5 min read

Energy Firms Wrote Off £172m Under Backbilling Rules: Ofgem

Ofgem's assessment of the seven largest energy suppliers found £172m of historical charges written off for almost 1 million customers under backbilling rules, 11 million bills issued late in 2024, and wide variation in support for vulnerable customers. Your billing rights explained.

30 Jul 2026 · 6 min read

Best Electric Radiators UK: Types, Running Costs and What Actually Saves Money

Every electric heater sold since January 2018 must meet Lot 20 ecodesign rules. At the 26.11p per kWh July 2026 cap rate, a 1kW radiator costs about 26p an hour flat out, with thermostatic cycling cutting real world costs well below nameplate.

25 Jul 2026 · 4 min read

Oil Back Above 100 Dollars: UK Petrol, Bills and Travel Impact

Oil has climbed back above 100 dollars a barrel for the first time since May as the Iran conflict escalates. Here is what it means for UK petrol prices, the October energy price cap, the £45 VAT saving and foreign travel plans.

24 Jul 2026 · 6 min read

Energy Debt Costs Hit £554 Million a Quarter: Ofgem Data Explained in Charts

UK energy suppliers reported £554 million of debt-related costs in the first quarter of 2026, the second-highest on record. Charts and tables from Ofgem's data: the £1.6 billion annual cost and who ultimately pays.

22 Jul 2026 · 9 min read

VAT Scrapped on Household Electricity Bills From 1 October 2026: What the £45 Cut Means for You

VAT on domestic electricity bills falls from 5% to 0% from 1 October 2026 until 31 March 2027, cutting around £45 a year off the Ofgem price cap. Announced 21 July 2026 and funded by cancelling the £1.8bn Digital ID programme, it stacks on the £150 removed at the last Budget.

24 Jul 2026 · 9 min read

North Sea Oil and Thames Water: What Burnham Is Planning

Incoming PM Andy Burnham is reportedly preparing new North Sea drilling policy, as polling shows 71% back domestic oil and gas production over imports.

20 Jul 2026 · 4 min read

Burnham Weighs Cutting VAT on Energy Bills to Save £130 a Year

Andy Burnham is considering removing VAT from energy bills, moving older renewables onto fixed-price contracts and an affordable energy guarantee, with estimated savings of around £130 a year per household.

19 Jul 2026 · 4 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.

17 Jul 2026 · 6 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

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

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

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

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

SGE's 14-Reactor UK SMR Fleet: What Was Actually Submitted

SGE has submitted plans for 14 small modular reactors across three UK sites, delivering 4.2GW of capacity. How this compares to the Rolls-Royce SMR programme already underway at Wylfa, and the realistic timeline.

3 Jul 2026 · 3 min read

Before You Buy an Electric Car: Real Costs, Range, Charging and What to Check in 2026

Before you buy an electric car in 2026: total cost of ownership vs petrol, charging costs, range anxiety, VED tax changes, grants and the 5 checks to make before buying.

1 Jul 2026 · 5 min read

Before You Switch Energy Supplier in July 2026: What the Cap Rise Changes

The energy price cap rose 13% to £1,862 on 1 July 2026. Before you switch or fix your tariff, here is the maths, what to check and your switching rights.

1 Jul 2026 · 5 min read

Energy Price Cap Rises 13% Today: Confirmed Rates and October Outlook for UK Households

The Ofgem energy price cap is £1,862/year from today, 1 July 2026, up £221 (13%). Gas rises 28%, electricity 6%. October 2026 forecast: £1,849. Who is affected and what to do.

1 Jul 2026 · 1 min read

Millions of Britons Urged to Submit Meter Readings Before Energy Price Cap Rises

Ofgem's price cap rises 13% to £1,862 a year from 1 July 2026. Submit a meter reading around 30 June to avoid being billed the higher rate early.

30 Jun 2026 · 3 min read

UK Energy Bills During a Heatwave: What the Summer Heat Means for Your Costs in 2026

With temperatures rising across the UK in July 2026, household electricity demand is climbing. Here is what the Ofgem price cap, standing charges and summer usage patterns mean for your energy bill.

28 Jun 2026 · 4 min read

UK Secures £100 Billion of Clean Energy Investment Ahead of 2030 Grid Decarbonisation Target

The UK government has secured £100bn of clean energy investment since July 2024, covering offshore wind, solar, storage and hydrogen. GB Energy is.

27 Jun 2026 · 4 min read

Heat Pump Grant Rises to £9,000 from 21 July: Who Qualifies and How to Apply

Heat pump grant rises to £9,000 from 21 July for oil-heated homes. 200,000 homes getting leaflets now. Apply via an MCS-certified installer.

26 Jun 2026 · 6 min read

UK Energy Bill Debt Hits £3.7bn: Every Way to Cut Your Bill and Get Help

UK household energy debt tops £3.7bn. Standing charges rising. Warm Home Discount, direct debit switch and hardship grants can cut your bill significantly.

26 Jun 2026 · 5 min read

Smart EV Charging Plan Could Save Drivers Up to £1,000 a Year on Electricity Bills

Government and Ofgem plan makes smart EV charging default. Saves up to £1,000 per year by shifting to off-peak hours. Smart charge points required.

26 Jun 2026 · 4 min read

Aldi Budget Air Cooler and Heatwave Energy Costs UK: What to Know Before You Buy

Aldi's budget air cooler sold out rapidly during the June 2026 heatwave. Before buying any portable cooler, here is what UK consumers need to know about running costs, energy use and consumer rights.

26 Jun 2026 · 5 min read

Before You Sign a Business Energy Contract: Traps and TPI Risks

Business energy contracts are unregulated compared to domestic supply. This guide covers broker commission disclosure, auto-rollover clauses, deemed contract rates and why the Ofgem price cap does not protect business customers.

25 Jun 2026 · 6 min read

Before You Get a Smart Meter: What Changes and What Does Not

Smart meters are free to install but may lose smart functionality if you switch supplier. This guide explains SMETS1 vs SMETS2 differences, in-home display limitations, time-of-use tariff eligibility and your right to refuse installation.

25 Jun 2026 · 5 min read