“A 0.2% increase, albeit negligible, is another indication that higher energy prices are here to stay for the foreseeable future and an average bill of more than £1,750 is the new norm.
“Thirty-seven per cent of the 500,000 people we supported this year live in a poor-quality home, making them acutely vulnerable to any rise in the unit cost of energy.
“While we acknowledge the price cap remains an essential consumer protection mechanism to limit how much suppliers can charge for gas and electricity, for the people it is intended to support, many of whom live in low-income households, the cap on its own is not sufficient to guarantee that energy is affordable.
“Many families are now facing another hard winter of higher energy bills, with too many still having to choose between heating and eating. No one should have to ration warmth or go without a hot meal in their own home.
“We continue to call for prepayment meter tariffs to remain the cheapest option, and for those who pay in advance to have genuine tariff choice in 2026 and beyond, as well as being able to simply access crisis support. This is critical as we move into winter.”
