Olivia Beeson5-6 minutes 7/1/2026
According to one expert, there are two things that UK households should do in the coming days.
Brits have been urged to submit meter readings due to the price hike (Image: Getty)
Millions of UK households have been urged to send in meter readings immediately as a 13% hike warning has been issued.
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The estimated 5.3 million households on standard tariffs who do not have a smart meter have been urged to take action to avoid paying for energy they have already used at the new, more expensive rates that take effect from Wednesday, July 1.
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The price cap by Ofgem sets the maximum amount firms can charge homes on standard tariffs per unit of gas and electricity.
This will see those who pay via direct debit seeing electricity charges rise from the current rate of 24.67p a kilowatt hour to 26.11p, while gas charges will rise from 5.74p a kWh to 7.33p.
This will mean that the average gas and electricity bill will increase by £221 to £1,862 a year.
The increse is largedly driven by a spike in global energy wholesale prices caused by the Middle East conflict.
Uswitch energy spokesman Ben Gallizzi said: “There are two crucial things you should add to your to-do list for the coming days – submit a meter reading and get a cheap fixed energy deal.
“Millions of households should take a moment to read their meter at the end of the month to avoid being overcharged for their energy due to higher prices kicking in from July.”
Minister for energy consumers Martin McCluskey said: “We know families are deeply concerned about rising energy bills because of a war we did not choose, and we are determined to fight their corner to tackle energy affordability.
“The action we took at the budget, which has taken an average £150 of costs off energy bills, is now factored into bills for the years to come.
“We have also expanded the Warm Home Discount scheme, which benefitted around six million households last winter and will remain in place for the rest of the decade.
“We will continue to monitor the situation ahead of the winter and plan for all contingencies, while doubling down on our mission for clean power to bring down bills for good.”
It is expected that following the jump in the price cap bills will remain high throughout this winter, falling by only around 0.5% in October compared to July as the US-Iran 60-day ceasefire helps to stabilise wholesale gas markets, Cornwall Insight said.
However the lack of clarity on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and continued on and off nature of the peace talks has meant prices remained high, if less volatile than in the spring.
Millions of UK households have been urged to check their meters (Image: Getty)
Cornwall said it expected a typical household to be facing a bill of £1,849 from October.
While Ofgem is updating its definition of a typical consumer from July to reflect falling household energy use, which adjusts the headline figure to £1,654, Cornwall said this represented “little change” on a like-for-like basis.
People may not notice the initial impact of July’s higher prices due to the warm weather conditions and lower energy use, but come October as people switch their heating back on, the impact on household finances will likely be noticed.
After Iran responded to US and Israel attacks by blocking the Strait of Hormuz prices skyrocketed.
Ofgem will announce the next quarterly price cap level for October to December on or by August 26.
It leaves a question mark over whether the Government will launch any targeted energy support for the winter months.
It is unclear who the Chancellor may be later in the year following Starmer’s resignation but it is certain that cost of living and bills pressures will be top of their inbox.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said earlier this year she would consider some form of support in the autumn if necessary and if energy prices remain high.
Even though energy bills may not go up further in October, many will face a payment shock in the winter months unless prices come down.
Figures earlier this week from Ofgem showed debt owed to energy suppliers reached a record high of £4.79 billion in the three months to March – a 5% increase on the last quarter and 15% higher year on year.