The government has been warned by cost of living activists not to accept high gas and electricity prices as the "new normal," as these costs will rise by at least £67 this month.
As a result of the end of lockdown and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the government launched a number of policies last year to assist households in coping with increased expenditures. Included in these were a £400 rebate through its Energy Bill Support Scheme (EBSS) paid in six instalments and a cap on the average annual energy bill at £2,500 through the Energy Price Guarantee (EPG).
The EBSS is now over, so individuals will start paying their full bills again starting in April. Despite the EPG being extended by three months, costs are still 120% more than they were 18 months ago.
Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, told PoliticsHome he believed people were being "taken for fools" by being charged elevated prices. "Homes across the country will be in for a big shock [after] this weekend," said Francis.
"In addition, changes to the Ofgem rules come in which will see the standing charges that people pay everyday just to access the grid shoot up 64 per cent. Britain's broken energy system continues to hit households hard and we will see levels of energy debt increase to record levels as people struggle to cope."