Overview
- From 1 January to 31 March 2026, the cap for a typical dual‑fuel home paying by Direct Debit rises 0.2% to £1,758, up from £1,755 in October–December.
- Consumer groups advise non‑smart meter users to send readings and keep a dated photo before the change, while those with working smart meters should check that automatic reads are being sent.
- MoneySavingExpert warns some on standard tariffs could pay about £136 more than the cap, with ‘pay on receipt of bill’ costs around £1,894 and electricity‑heavy households seeing rises of 3–4%.
- Martin Lewis and analysts say the uptick stems from policy and network charges, including nuclear, grid linking and Warm Home Discount costs, rather than higher wholesale prices.
- Uswitch and charities highlight ongoing pressure on budgets, citing a £1,254 jump in average essential bills this year and debt‑advice clients owing roughly £1,800 in unpaid energy bills, and they suggest checking fixed deals that may save about £150 a year.