UK residents face smaller energy bills as inflation eases

UK regulators on Thursday slashed a cap on domestic energy bills from July, easing a cost-of-living crisis one day after data showed a slowdown in elevated inflation.

For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.

Ofgem said the annual amount suppliers are able to charge an average household would drop to $2,564 (£2,074), citing “recent falls in wholesale energy prices.”

The previous cap was set at £3,280 but government subsidies had limited the typical bill to £2,500 in a bid to cushion consumers from the squeeze on living standards.

The invasion of Ukraine by key oil and gas producer Russia in February 2022 sent energy prices and wider inflation soaring, and this in turn sent governments scrambling to shore up supplies while subsidizing domestic bills.

In recent months, however, energy prices have slumped on easing supply concerns thanks to warmer weather in Europe and as nations become less dependent on Russian oil and gas.

“Today’s update means that, for the first time since the global gas crisis took hold more than 18 months ago, prices are falling for customers on default tariffs,” the energy watchdog added in a statement.

Thursday's news means taxpayers will no longer be subsidizing energy bills because the cap is cheaper than Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's so-called energy price guarantee.

Ofgem cautioned that many households “could still struggle to pay bills” because energy bills remain higher than before Moscow launched its attack on Ukraine.

Annual UK inflation struck a 13-month low in April, official data showed Wednesday, but still remains elevated at 8.7 percent as soaring food prices offset weaker energy costs.

The rate slowed from 10.1 percent in March, falling below double digits for the first time since August last year.

Ofgem chief executive Jonathan Brearley said Thursday it was “encouraging” to see the energy market stabilizing — and prices moving downwards after a “difficult” winter.

“People should start seeing cheaper energy bills from the start of July, and that is a welcome step towards lower costs,” he said.

“However, we know people are still finding it hard, the cost-of-living crisis continues and these bills will still be troubling many people up and down the country.”

The regulator is urging people who are struggling to access support measures including payment plans and hardship funds.

Read more:

Ex-UK PM Johnson called France’s Macron a ‘four-letter word starting with C’: Aide

Macron: France open to training Ukraine fighter jet pilots

Zelenskyy says hopeful of jets deal soon with UK, Western allies