The reported £150 reduction in bills won’t take effect for months
Energy bills are set to rise again this winter, with January’s price cap increase coming at the worst possible time, just as households are using the most gas and electricity. Despite headlines promising bill reductions following the Autumn Budget, many people may not realise there is a delay before any savings actually take effect.
The £150 reduction won’t take effect until April 2026, meaning the higher price cap will apply throughout the peak winter months. Households could face higher bills from December to March, with costs also vulnerable to fluctuations in wholesale prices and network charges.
One way to safeguard against this is by switching to a fixed tariff below the current price cap, thereby locking in lower rates during the most expensive part of the year and avoiding further volatility. Utility Warehouse (UW), a UK provider that offers energy alongside other household services, provides this price certainty now.
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They also offer the option to save more by bundling energy with broadband, mobile or insurance. Homeowners can also benefit from welcome credit through the UW Cashback Card, and receive support from local partners who help tailor deals to suit individual households, reports the Daily Record.
When it comes to energy, UW provides fixed tariffs, ensuring the unit price for gas and electricity remains constant for a specified duration. By locking in tariffs now, rates remain unaffected even if wholesale prices surge before the next price cap revision.
UW is available on its website
Utility Warehouse (UW) is a UK provider that supplies energy alongside other household services
UW’s fixed tariffs are reportedly designed with future market fluctuations and impending policy changes in mind, so customers aren’t left hanging for subsequent price reductions to kick in. This approach can help distribute costs more evenly throughout the year, avoiding the sting of inflated bills during the winter peak.
Customers can handle all their utilities through one consolidated bill and account, and UW also operates via a network of local partners who can clarify options and assist with the switch. Utility Warehouse serves over a million UK households and is a Which?Recommended Provider for both energy and broadband, boasting an ‘Excellent’ Trustpilot rating.
For those exploring alternative providers, Octopus Energy might be worth a look. Their website claims they offer Britain’s ‘fairest energy tariff for electricity, gas or both’, and they provide a variety of services, including smart tariffs, the ‘Octopus Tracker’ that offers daily prices tracking the wholesale cost of energy, and ‘Agile Octopus’, which delivers half-hourly electricity prices updated daily.
Utilita Energy is another provider worth considering, offering smart energy solutions, smart meters, transparent power pricing and a comprehensive energy hub. They’ve also got solar panel and battery storage options tailored to fit different household requirements.
Utility Warehouse (UW) has earned impressive marks on Trustpilot, boasting a solid 4.3 out of 5 star rating from more than 70,000 customer reviews. One satisfied customer shared: “I have been with this company for a very long time now and it’s been amazing with me.”
Another chimed in: “Very good support from customer services.”
Some reviewers docked a star for minor niggles, with one explaining: “Very, very efficient. Short wait on phone calls. Pleasant staff. You lost a star because you no longer show the balance after each entry. You used to when I first joined UW.”
Despite these small gripes, the overwhelming majority were pleased with their experience, as another customer confirmed: “Very good savings and very good customer service.”