Energy Price Cap latest: bills forecast to jump in April and July
Energy prices are forecast to rise twice between now and July, meaning the typical annual bill could be £350 higher than last Summer.
Energy bills look set to keep rising for the foreseeable future, heaping more pressure on household budgets.
The Energy Price Cap, which sets out the maximum amount suppliers are allowed to charge customers per unit of energy and is revised every three months, currently stands at £1,738.
Analysts believe it will rise anywhere between £90 and £120 for the typical household in April, with a more moderate £30 to £70 increase to follow in July.
Given that the Price Cap already jumped £149 back in October 2024 and £21 last month, we could be on track for four consecutive quarters of price hikes.
And that means the typical annual energy bill could be more than £350 higher this coming Summer compared to last.
Back in August 2024, the Price Cap stood at £1,568, but it could be as high as £1,935 this time round, according to the gloomiest forecast.
| Forecaster | Est. price in April | Est. price in July |
| Cornwall Insight | £1,785 | N/A |
| E.on | £1,838 | £1,907 |
| British Gas | £1,830 | £1,935 |
| EDF | £1,859 | £1,919 |
Why are prices rising?
British wholesale gas prices have recently hit a more than two-year high.
Combine this with the fact we're in the high usage months and Britain's overall low levels of energy storage capacity, and this all points to even higher prices in the months ahead.
This will, of course, be terrible news for the millions of households already struggling to make ends meet.
Shop around for a cheaper energy deal with Uswitch and save up to £100 (opens in new page)
Many can’t afford to turn on the heating
Research from price comparison site Uswitch, released in November before the most recent Energy Price Cap increase, warned that more than 1.7 million households would already struggle to turn on the heating this Winter.
More than half of those who responded to its survey cited rising living costs as the reason for not heating their homes, while a quarter of pensioners pointed to the loss of their Winter Fuel Payment.
Read: how to sort your own Winter Fuel Payment
The January price rise will only have amplified these struggles, and that's before we factor in the expected increases in April and July.
So what can you do if your energy bills are already unaffordable?
Switch, use less, get help
We’re at risk of sounding like a broken record on this, but the quickest and easiest step you can take is to switch to a cheaper energy deal.
Many energy suppliers offer fixed-rate tariffs that are notably cheaper than the Energy Price Cap.
In fact, Uswitch estimates a typical household will save £100 by switching to a cheaper deal. If you haven’t already done so, take a few minutes to lock into a cheaper deal now.
Once you’ve done that, it’s time to take steps to use less energy and, if you’re still struggling, look at what help you qualify for.
Read the following two guides for more information:
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Shop around for a cheaper energy deal with Uswitch and save up to £100 (opens in new page)
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