Overview

• Industry analysts now expect the cap to increase by about £17 to roughly £1,737 for October–December, reversing July projections of a fall.
• The outlook factors in an expanded Warm Home Discount that adds around £15 to a typical bill while providing £150 of support to 2.7 million more people.
• University of York research reports 12.1 million households struggling with energy costs, nearly 5 million in fuel poverty, £4.15 billion in supplier debt, and 3.2 million pensioner households affected.
• Consumer advisers urge immediate steps, saying a switch to direct debit can save about £135 per year, with fixed deals offering additional savings.
• EDF has launched a 12‑month fix at £1,634 for a typical direct‑debit customer, undercutting today’s cap by £86 and its October prediction by £110, with exit fees and potential withdrawal noted.