Relief for households as energy bills set to fall

Energy bills are due drop by hundreds of pounds in April to their lowest in two years under new price cap.

The typical annual energy price for UK households is set to fall to £1,690 in the spring, bringing the bills to their lowest price since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Energy regulator Ofgem announced the new lower price cap on Friday, which comes as a result of a mild winter and lower gas prices. But despite the drop, gas and electric bills will still be higher than pre-pandemic prices.

The current typical annual energy bill is £1,928, but from the 1st April, this figure will drop by £238, or 12%, from the current pricing down to £1,690.

Many UK households have struggled to pay their energy bills in the past few years due to the cost of living crisis, which heavily escalated after Russia stopped piping gas to Europe after their invasion of Ukraine.

The Citizens Advice Bureau has been supporting those in need during the cost of living crisis, and last year they helped record numbers of people with energy debts and crisis support.

Responding to Ofgem’s announcement, the Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, Dame Clare Moriarty, said: “It’s good news that the energy cost is falling, but the impact of sky-high prices will be felt for years to come.”

Winchester residents had a mixed reaction to the news.

“I’ll be looking forward to seeing a reduction in my monthly payment, but I’m sure there’ll be other things that I need to spend that money on,” one member of the public said.

“Everything’s gone up, so the fact that something’s coming down is good news,” another said.

Energy bills are expected to fall further in July, followed by a possible slight rise in prices during the winter period, according to experts.