Energy Bills Get a 6.4% Raise – And We’re All Still Shocked
Ofgem’s latest update (effective 1 April) carries a familiar, not‑funny message: Variable‑tariff energy bills in England, Scotland, and Wales will rise for the third straight quarter. The price jump is set to boost the average annual cost from £1,738 to £1,849.
Why the Numbers Keep Rising
- Wholesale price spike – Global gas markets are as tick‑tock as a clock that’s stuck on the “boom” dial.
- Reliance on imports – Buying gas from abroad leaves the UK open to price swings you can’t really predict.
- Energy debt record high – The “energy crisis debt” pile keeps climbing, threatening sleepless nights for families.
What Ofgem’s Chief Exec Says
Jonathan Brearley filled a press box with a mix of empathy and urgency:
“We know that no price rise is ever welcome, and that the cost of energy remains a huge challenge for many households. But our reliance on international gas markets leads to volatile wholesale prices, and continues to drive up bills, which is why it’s more important than ever that we’re driving forward investment in a cleaner, homegrown system.”
“Energy debts that began during the energy crisis have reached record levels and without intervention will continue to grow. This puts families under huge stress and increases costs for all customers. We’re developing plans that could give households with unmanageable debt the clean slate they need to move forward.”
Government‑Side Shakespeare
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband added a touch of heart‑warming rhetoric:
“This is worrying news for many families. This Government is determined to do everything we can to protect people from the grip of fossil fuel markets. Expanding the Warm Home Discount can help protect millions of families from rising energy bills, offering support to consumers across the country.”
“Alongside this, the way to deliver energy security and bring down bills for good is to deliver our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower with homegrown clean power that we in Britain control.”
Advice for Those With Kids
Dame Clare Moriarty, chief executive of Citizens Advice, voiced a particular worry:
“We’re particularly concerned about households with children, where over one in three struggle to afford bills, rising to more than half of those on low incomes. The Government can’t let another winter go by without targeted support for those most in need, and there is a way of paying for this. Our recent analysis found energy network companies made billions in excess profits while households have faced soaring bills and it’s only right this money be used to help fund better targeted bill support and much‑needed debt relief.”
Bottom Line
Rise in bills? Check. Debt worry? Check. Government promises? Check. The only thing left to do is pull up a cup of tea, brace ourselves, and hope the clean‑energy bandwagon will speed up enough to bring those costs back down in the blink of an eye.
