Bills, energy & utilities
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How the Ofgem energy price cap works, reading a UK energy bill, the Priority Services Register for vulnerable customers, and broadband social tariffs. Sourced from Ofgem, Ofcom and Ofwat.
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Ofgem energy price cap explained
The Ofgem energy price cap limits the unit rates and standing charges suppliers can charge default-tariff customers in England, Scotland and Wales. It is reset every three months. The widely-quoted headline figure (£1,849/year for the April–June 2025 cap) is for a typical Direct Debit user of 2,700 kWh of electricity and 11,500 kWh of gas — actual bills depend on real usage.
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How to read a UK energy bill
A UK energy bill must include the supplier name, customer account number, MPAN (electricity) or MPRN (gas), tariff name, period covered, opening and closing meter reads, unit rates and standing charges for each fuel, VAT at 5%, and the total amount due. Suppliers must also show a comparison against the most recent meter read and an annual usage estimate.
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Priority Services Register: free extra help with energy and water
The Priority Services Register is a free Ofgem and Ofwat scheme that gives extra support to people in vulnerable circumstances — older people, those with disabilities or long-term medical conditions, pregnant women, families with young children, and people facing temporary hardship. Each energy and water supplier keeps a register and provides services including 48 hours' notice of planned outages, alternative communication formats and password schemes for callers.
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Broadband social tariffs in the UK
Broadband social tariffs are cheaper broadband packages — typically £12–£25 a month — offered by most major UK providers to people receiving Universal Credit, Pension Credit and certain other means-tested benefits. Take-up remains low: Ofcom estimate fewer than 10% of eligible UK households are on one. Switching to a social tariff carries no exit fee, even mid-contract.