The Ofgem price cap does not put a limit on how much you can pay for energy – instead, it sets a limit on unit rates for gas and electricity, as well as the standing charges
Ofgem has confirmed that energy bills will rise again – but there are ways you can cut your costs.
There is also help available if you’re struggling to pay your gas and electricity bill. The Ofgem energy price cap is increasing from £1,720 a year to £1,755 for the average dual fuel household paying by direct debit from October.
The Ofgem price cap does not put a limit on how much you can pay for energy – instead, it sets a limit on unit rates for gas and electricity, as well as the standing charges.
You have to pay standing charges to be connected to the energy network. There are different rates for prepayment customers and those who pay on receipt of their bill.
Tell your energy provider if you’re struggling
Contact your energy provider if you can’t pay your energy bill and ask what help is available. It is normally best to do this before you fall behind on a payment.
If you miss an energy bill payment, it can damage your credit score and even result in court action and visits from debt collectors if you continue not to pay.
Your energy firm may be offered includes a payment plan, payment breaks and affordable debt repayments. If you’re a vulnerable customer – for example, if you’re a pensioner or have a long-term health condition – you may be able to sign up to the Priority Services Register.
This will give you advance notice of planned power cuts, priority support in an emergency and help with reading your meter.
Emergency credit for prepayment customers
This is a small amount of credit your supplier can put on your account if you’re about to run out of energy. How much credit you will get depends on your energy firm, but it is usually between £5 and £15.
This normally needs to be paid back the next time you top up. You usually need to have less than 50p for electricity or less than £2 for gas on your meter to access emergency credit.
Suppliers also offer “friendly credit” during certain times of the week where you won’t be cut off. This is typically between 6pm and 9pm Monday to Saturday, and all day on Sunday and bank holidays, but it does vary between suppliers.
This also needs to be paid back when you next top up. If you are a vulnerable customer and you can’t afford to top-up, you may be able to get “additional support credit” from your supplier.
Get up to £2,000 through an energy hardship scheme
Most of the major energy firm offer hardship funds or grants for people who are in energy debt – and these normally do not need to be paid back.
You normally have to be a customer to get help, but the British Gas Energy Trust offers grants worth up to £2,000 and this can be accessed by any household – not just its customers – if they meet the criteria and cannot be offered a grant from their own supplier.
You normally need to have asked for help first through a free money help service such as Citizens Advice and you will be asked to provide evidence of your income and any benefits you receive.
Check if you’re eligible for Warm Home Discount
You can get £150 off your electricity bill through the Warm Home Discount scheme. This is applied to your energy bill, not as a cash payment, or as a voucher if you’re a prepayment customer.
The scheme is set to open again in October 2025. If you live in England and Wales, you must be claiming certain benefits such as Pension Credit or Universal Credit to get the Warm Home Discount.
If you live in Scotland, the payment is automatic if you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, but for other benefits, you need to apply through your energy supplier. There is no Warm Home Discount scheme in Northern Ireland.
See if you’re able to get Cold Weather Payment
Cold Weather Payments are issued when the average temperature is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0C or below over seven consecutive days.
Each payment is worth £25, although it is possible to get multiple payments if you go through several spells of freezing weather. This scheme is currently closed but will reopen in November 2025.
You need to be living in England or Wales and claiming certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest to be eligible for a Cold Weather Payment. If you live in Scotland, you might be entitled to an annual £50 Winter Heating Payment instead.
Check if you’ll get Winter Fuel Payment
Winter Fuel Payments are cash payments worth £200 for eligible households, or £300 for eligible households with someone aged over 80.
They are paid to pensioners who were born before September 22, 1959, with the payments normally sent from November onwards. If you earn over £35,000, you’ll still be sent the payment, but you’ll have to pay it back through the tax system.
You can choose to opt out of receiving the payment altogether. The income threshold is based per person. For example, if you earn £30,000 a year and your partner earns £40,000, one person would keep their share of the Winter Fuel Payment but the other would pay it back.
Energy charity help
Finally, several charities can offer you support and guidance if you are struggling to pay for your energy, or if you are in energy debt.
For wider debt help, speak to: