Overview

• The change takes effect 1 October for customers on standard variable tariffs, directly influencing about 35 million households in Great Britain.
• Consumers without smart meters are urged to submit meter readings today, with more than 7 million households targeted to avoid higher-rate charges on earlier usage.
• Standing charges increase again—about 4% for electricity and 14% for gas—as the Warm Home Discount expands to provide £150 to an estimated 6.1 million households.
• Ofgem reports household energy debt at a record £4.4bn, and StepChange says average energy arrears among its clients have risen 32% over two years.
• National Energy Action says 58% of households expect to cut energy use this winter, while officials work on a debt-relief scheme due before year-end and outline a major home-upgrade programme.