T
he quantity that a mean family is predicted to pay for its power payments will fall by round £150 per 12 months from the beginning of October, in accordance with a brand new forecast.
Ofgem’s subsequent worth cap, which can be introduced on Friday subsequent week, will drop to round £1,925, in accordance with the most recent forecast from Cornwall Insight, an power consultancy.
It is a discount of seven%, and the bottom the cap has been since March 2022.
It is crucial that the Government discover various options, resembling social tariffs, to make sure stability and affordability for customers
But consultants have urged warning after surveys confirmed the £1,925 per 12 months determine has misled many individuals. This is just not a cap on the general quantity folks can pay for his or her power.
Instead it caps the quantity that they pay per kilowatt hour, or unit, of gasoline and electrical energy. The £1,925 determine is calculated based mostly on what Ofgem thinks a mean family will use.
Those who use much less can pay much less, and those that use extra can pay extra.
Ofgem has additionally just lately lowered how a lot it assumes the common family makes use of. Taking this lowered utilization into consideration, the value cap can be round £1,823.
The value for a unit of electrical energy can be 26.96p, whereas the price of gasoline can be 6.93p.
The Cornwall forecast sees payments rising once more barely sooner or later. In the primary three months of subsequent 12 months the analysts suppose that electrical energy costs can be 29.48p and gasoline can be 7.72p, including round £150 to the common annual invoice.
Dr Craig Lowrey, principal marketing consultant at Cornwall Insight, stated: “While a small decrease in October’s bills is to be welcomed, we once again see energy price forecasts far above pre-crisis levels, underscoring the limitations of the price cap as a tool for supporting households with their energy bills.
“As many, including energy regulator Ofgem have acknowledged, it is essential that the Government explore alternative solutions, such as social tariffs, to ensure stability and affordability for consumers.”
In the identical method as we noticed wholesale market volatility affect our cap forecasts final 12 months, comparable developments danger inflicting sharp modifications in family payments in 2024
He added: “Looking ahead to next year, we see how events on the other side of the globe have impacted gas prices and our subsequent price cap predictions.
“In the same way as we saw wholesale market volatility impact our cap forecasts last year, similar developments risk causing sharp changes in household bills in 2024.
“The UK’s structural reliance on gas imports means that it is highly susceptible to fluctuations in the international wholesale energy market.
“This situation continues to highlight the need for an energy policy that can accommodate the practicalities of a global energy market with support for domestically sourced, sustainable supplies which can help bring stable energy prices for all households.”
