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UK Energy Price Cap Ticks Up to £1,758 as Ofgem’s January Update Takes Effect

Ofgem points to policy costs—not wholesale prices—as the cause.

Overview

  • The cap rises 0.2% from today, lifting a typical direct‑debit bill from £1,755 to £1,758, equal to about 28p more per month for an average household.
  • Ofgem attributes the increase to policy and operating charges, including the Sizewell C levy adding roughly £1 per month and higher costs linked to the Warm Home Discount.
  • The next quarterly review is due in April, when the government says average bills will fall by about £150 after shifting some levies off bills, with Cornwall Insight forecasting a cap near £1,620.
  • Ofgem notes the new cap is roughly £37 lower than a year ago in real terms, with recent declines in wholesale prices tempering future costs.
  • The update lands during a severe cold snap with UKHSA cold‑health alerts, as Which? advises shopping for fixed deals below the cap and the Warm Home Discount expands to around 2.7 million additional households.