The average annual energy bill will rise to £1,849 as industry regulator Ofgem increases the price cap for the third time in a row.
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The new figure represents a 6.4% a year – or £9.25 per month – increase in the typical sum the vast majority of households face paying for gas and electricity when using direct debit.
You can read more about the changes and why they’re happening here.
Only those on fixed-rate deals – around 11 million homes – will see no change until their current term expires. An extra four million homes have fixed the cost of energy units since November, Ofgem said.
Standing charges – daily fixed fees to connect to a gas and electricity supply which vary by region – are also rising for gas while dropping for electricity, but it depends on where you live.
So should you fix?
Consumer expert Martin Lewis says that, based on where energy prices are currently at: “If you find a fix for up to 3% more than the current (January to March) or 3% less than the new (April to June) price cap, it’s predicted you’ll save over the year compared with staying on the price cap.”
The best deal currently on the market is with Outfox the Market, which is offering a 12-month fix for 7.4% less than January’s cap and 12.9% less than April’s.
EDF is currently offering a no-exit fee fix, and Octopus is doing the same for existing customers – so if the maths work for you, these could be risk-free options.
We spoke to Emily Seymour, Which? energy editor, about switching.
“There’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach when it comes to fixing an energy deal as it will all depend on your individual circumstances,” said Seymour.
“For example, if you have an electric vehicle, you might want to look for a tariff which offers cheaper electricity overnight to charge your car.
“As a rule of thumb, we’d recommend looking for deals close to the current price cap, not longer than 12 months and without significant exit fees.”
Other help
The warm home discount provides a £150 annual reduction on energy bills.
Those wanting to receive the payment must be getting the guarantee credit element of pension credit or be on a low income with high energy costs.
The government advises: “If you’re eligible, your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill. The money is not paid to you.
“You’ll usually get the discount automatically if you’re eligible. You only need to apply if you’reon a low income in Scotland– contact your energy supplier to apply.”
Those on pension credit will also be eligible for the winter fuel allowance later this year – this is worth up to £150.
BROADBAND AND MOBILE
While Ofcom’s new rules banning inflation-linked contracts came into effect in January, many consumers will be on older contracts that will still see a price rise linked to inflation.
This is causing confusion among customers, so for overall clarity: Uswitch says this April’s rises are expected to add an average of £21.99 annually for those on inflation-linked contracts and up to £42 a year for those on newer “pounds and pence” plans that are subject to fixed increases.
How do you know which contract you have?
Many providers started putting customers on fixed increase contracts in 2024 – so if you started a new broadband contract recently, you may be subject to a pounds and pence price hike.
These are the dates the providers started introducing them…
BT/EE/Plusnet: Contract started on or after 10 April 2024
Vodafone: Contract started on or after 2 July 2024
TalkTalk: Contract started on or after 12 August 2024
Three Broadband: Contract started on or after 1 September 2024
Virgin Media: Contract started on or after 9 January 2025
So if you signed up for a deal on any of the above after those dates, you should be on a fixed annual increase – but you’ll want to check your individual policy.
Here’s an overview of the hikes being implemented by major providers…
Consider switching
You might be able to avoid the rises by switching provider as cheaper deals are often available to new customers.
You should check to see if you’re out of contract first, or what the exit penalty may be.
Research by Which? shows switching providers when you’re out of contract could cut bills by up to £235 annually.
If you don’t want to leave your provider, you could also call them and try to haggle down your monthly cost.
Several broadband providers have social tariffs available, helping those on benefits access an internet connection at a lower monthly price.
According to Uswitch, two-thirds of financially vulnerable households are unaware that low-income broadband tariffs exist.
Bundling?
You may be able to get cheaper prices by bundling your phone, internet and TV services – though you need to read the small print as exit fees can be significant.
TV LICENCE
The cost of a TV licence will also go up by £5 to £174.50
The rise comes after a £10.50 rise brought the charge to £169.50 in April last year.
If you’re 75 or over and you get pension credit, or you live with a partner who does, you qualify for a free TV licence.
You can apply for it here or by calling TV Licensing on 0300 790 6071.
Those in residential care or sheltered accommodation can get a licence for £7.50, while those registered blind or living with someone who is can get a 50% discount.
TRAIN FARES
Train fares in England have increased by 4.6% as of 2 March. Railcards are also going to become more expensive, despite the record-low reliability of services.
The Welsh government matched Westminster’s cap, while Transport for Wales is applying various increases to its unregulated fares.
Meanwhile, the Scottish government will increase all ScotRail fares by 3.8% from today.
One of the best ways to beat the price hikes is by getting a railcard – and they’re not just for traditional concession groups. We outlined all the different railcards here…
Mark Smith, who set up The Man in Seat 61 blog to help people travel cheaper and better, told Money there were various “traps” people fell into.
Tickets are normally released around 12 weeks in advance, but initially you may only see more expensive Off-Peak and Anytime tickets.
There’s often a gap of a week or two before reservations open and the much cheaper Advance fares go on sale.
Smith says you can save money by purchasing any time before your day of travel – a £30 or £40 Advance fare will then turn into an £68.60 Off-Peak one-way or a £184.70 Anytime, for example.
If you are forced to travel at peak times you should consider split ticketing. For example:
If you’re travelling at 5pm on a Monday, instead of getting a peak ticket all the way from London to Manchester, get a peak Anytime ticket to Milton Keynes and then an Off-Peak from Milton Keynes to Manchester.
One final trap to avoid was exposed by a Which? investigation last year that found train station ticket machines could be much, much more expensive than buying online.
CAR TAX
Also going up is the standard rate of road tax for cars registered after April 2017.
The flat rate cost of car tax from April 2025 is £195 (so an increase of £5).
Hybrid cars get a small discount (£10) but if your vehicle had a list price of more than £40,000 when it was first sold then you may also be liable for the “luxury car tax” fee, which adds £410 to your annual costs.
You may pay less if your car was first used before 2017 – the exact amount will depend on the year a car was registered and the type of fuel it consumes.
Perhaps a bigger change is that electric vehicles (EVs) will also no longer be exempt from tax – those registered from April 2025 will pay the lowest rate of £10 in the first year, then move to the standard rate.
Feeling confused? Autotrader gives this example…
It’s April 2025 and you’re choosing between Porsche Macans, petrol or electric (lucky you). A basic petrol Macan will mean you pay £4,680 in car tax in the first year, whereas with the electric one, you’ll pay £10. After that, they’ll both go to the standard rate (£195 per year) plus the £410 Expensive Car Supplement for five years.
Image: Vehicle tax reminder. Pic: iStock
WATER
Possibly the most controversial of the April changes is the sizeable increase to water bills.
Bills are going up in a development that has been blamed on problems including higher borrowing costs on large levels of debt, creaking infrastructure and record sewage outflows into waterways.
However, it was reported last March that England’s private water firms made £1.7bn in pre-tax profits – up 82% since 2018-19 – prompting renewed calls for the utility to be renationalised.
The average annual water bill will rise by 26% or £123 in the next financial year alone, figures showed.
Water UK said the increases across households would also vary, depending on circumstances such as water use and whether a water meter was installed.
All water companies offer a social tariff for eligible customers that reduces the cost of water bills – check with your provider to see if you are eligible.
Should you get a water meter?
Martin Lewis has some simple advice on this one: if you have more bedrooms than people in the house, a water meter is likely to save you money.
If your water company says it can’t give you a meter, you can asked for an “assessed charge” – which can offer the best of both worlds. Ofwat explains yours rights here.
STAMP DUTY
Changes come into force from today and affect those in England and Northern Ireland.
The current “nil rate” band (at which you start paying) for first-time buyers will reduce from £425,000 to £300,000, while other home-buyers will also see a reduction from £250,000 to £125,000.
In London, an average first-time buyer could end up paying more than £11,000 extra from April, Santander said.
Some 85% of top-tier council authorities in England are set to increase council tax by just under 5%.
Additionally, Bradford, Newham, Birmingham, Somerset, and Windsor and Maidenhead have been given special permission by the government to bypass the 4.99% cap – meaning they could raise council tax by more.
Our data and forensics unit has been taking a look at how council finances have deteriorated here.
With the majority of councils increasing their council tax by the maximum amount this month, some households could see their bills jump significantly.
Are you eligible for a discount?
You may qualify for extra support or a reduction in your council tax bill, for example if you’re on a low income, a student, living alone or are disabled.
Another option is to have your council tax bill spread over 12 months instead of the usual 10 – this won’t save you money but could help you to budget, if your council offers this option.
You could also get your home’s council tax band reviewed, which may entitle you to a refund if you’re in the wrong band. However, you should be aware the review could lead to your property being put in a higher band.
STEALTH TAX
Expecting a pay rise?
You may be surprised to see how little translates to your pay cheque.
That’s because frozen income tax thresholds could mean that some people get pushed into higher tax brackets as their wage goes up.
Others could be pushed into paying tax on their savings by breaching the personal savings allowance – which is £1,000 tax-free interest for basic rate taxpayers.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU’RE STRUGGLING TO PAY BILLS
If you’re having trouble paying your bills, there’s lots of support out there.
Emily Seymour, from Which?, told Money: “If you’re struggling to afford any household bills such as energy, council tax, water and telecoms, the first step is always to speak to your provider and see what help is available.
“It’s important to remember that energy companies are obliged to help you if you tell them you are struggling to pay and will not disconnect you if you miss a bill payment. You could ask for a review of your payments, a reduction in your payments or a payment break, more time to pay, and access to hardship funds.
“For water and broadband, there are cheaper social tariffs available so it’s worth speaking to your provider to see if you qualify.
“If you don’t qualify for a broadband or mobile social tariff, our research shows you could still make big savings by switching providers – especially if you’re with a firm that hikes prices annually – so it’s always a good idea to compare deals at the end of your contract to find the best offer for you.”
You can check your eligibility for benefits on the government websitewhich may allow you to access lower tariffs and contact your local council to see if you’re able to get support with water and energy bills.
There’s also charities offering help, including Citizens Advice and National Debtline, which are on hand to provide free, impartial advice.
A 54-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy have been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life after a restaurant fire in east London on Friday.
Two remained in a critical condition on Sunday morning, according to the Metropolitan Police.
The restaurant suffered extensive damage in the blaze.
Two further victims are thought to have left the scene before officers arrived, Scotland Yard said.
Image: Woodford Avenue from above. Pic: UK News and Pictures
Police are still trying to identify them.
CCTV footage seen by the PA news agency appears to show a group of people wearing face coverings walk into the restaurant and pour liquid on the floor.
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Seconds later, the inside of the restaurant is engulfed in flames.
“While we have made two arrests, our investigation continues at pace so we can piece together what happened on Friday evening,” said the Met Police’s DCI Mark Rogers.
“I know the community [is] concerned and shocked by this incident.
Image: The moment the fire broke out.
“I would urge anyone with any information or concerns to come forward and speak to police.”
Hospital porter Edward Thawe went to help after hearing screams from his nearby home.
He described the scene as “horrible” and “more than scary and the sort of thing that you don’t want to look at twice.”
He said: “I heard screaming and people saying they had called the police.”
The 43-year-old said he saw a woman and a severely burned man who may have been customers.
Another witness, who did not want to be named, said he saw three “severely burned” people being doused by the emergency services and given oxygen.
“I can only imagine the pain they were going through,” he said.
On Saturday, the London Ambulance Service told Sky News: “We sent resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, an advanced paramedic, an incident response officer and paramedics from our hazardous area response team.
“We treated five people for burns and smoke inhalation. We took two patients to a major trauma centre and three others to local hospitals.”
A new fast-track asylum appeals process will be introduced to speed up the process of deporting people without a right to remain in the UK, the home secretary has said.
As it currently takes, on average, more than a year to reach a decision on asylum appeals, the government plans to set up a new independent panel focused on asylum appeals to help reduce the backlog.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said “completely unacceptable” delays in the appeals process left failed asylum seekers in the system for years.
There are about 51,000 asylum appeals waiting to be heard.
The new independent body will use professionally-trained adjudicators, rather than relying on judges.
Ministers are introducing a new 24-week deadline for the first-tier tribunal to determine asylum appeals by those receiving accommodation support and appeals by foreign offenders.
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Police clash with protesters in Bristol
But they believe the current tribunal system, which covers a wide range of different cases, is still failing to ensure failed asylum seekers can be returned as swiftly as possible, nor can it accommodate a fast-track system for safe countries.
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It comes amid protests about the use of hotel accommodation for migrants.
The home secretary said the overhaul would result in a system which is “swift, fair and independent, with high standards in place”.
She said: “We inherited an asylum system in complete chaos with a soaring backlog of asylum cases and a broken appeals system with thousands of people in the system for years on end.
“That is why we are taking practical steps to fix the foundations and restore control and order to the system.
“We are determined to substantially reduce the number of people in the asylum system as part of our plan to end asylum hotels.
“Already since the election, we have reduced the backlog of people waiting for initial decisions by 24% and increased failed asylum returns by 30%.
“But we cannot carry on with these completely unacceptable delays in appeals as a result of the system we have inherited which mean that failed asylum seekers stay in the system for years on end at huge cost to the taxpayer.”
Official figures released earlier this month showed a total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
‘Waving immigrants through even faster will not fix the problem’
Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said: “I think this goes nowhere near far enough.
“The underlying rights, which allows most illegal immigrants to stay here, are not changing. Simply waving illegal immigrants through even faster to full housing and welfare rights will not fix the problem.”
Image: Chris Philp
He added: “Immigration judges will still apply ever expanding common-sense defying definitions of ECHR rights to allow foreign criminals and illegal immigrants to stay here.”
But the Liberal Democrats have been more positive in their response, with shadow attorney general, Ben Maguire, saying: “A faster application process would mean that those with no right to be here are sent back swiftly and those who do have a valid claim can get a job, integrate and contribute to the community.”
Asked for his thoughts on the policy, immigration lawyer Harjap Singh Bhangal told Sky News that it “definitely sounds like some sort of solution”.
He pointed that the backlog of asylum seekers waiting for a decision is “huge”, around 51,000 people – and that during this time, they are not allowed to work.
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A new fast-track asylum appeals process will be introduced to speed up the process of deporting people without a right to remain in the UK.
He said: “The equivalent would be saying that imagine if A-level students this year sat the exams and were told ‘well, hold on, you’re not going to get your results for two years’ time. But in the meantime, you can’t go to university.’
“You’d have mayhem, and it’d be pandemonium in the street. You’d have broken people idle with nothing to do. Essentially, this is what’s happening to asylum seekers.”
He added that one of the reasons it takes so long for cases to be heard is because asylum seekers have to represent themselves in court, which can mean upwards of half a day is spent translating and explaining everything to them.
Mr Bhangal also said the immigration system is “broken”, because “they take ages to make a decision which could be made in one week”.
A man who died after suffering “serious head injuries” while “working on a fairground ride” has been named as Corrie Lee Stavers.
Emergency services were called to the Spanish City Summer Funfair in Whitley Bay in North Tyneside after reports that a man, in his 20s, had been injured around 2.15pm on Saturday, police said.
Mr Stavers, 28, was treated at the scene but was declared dead a short time later.
In a statement issued by the police, his family said: “It’s with broken hearts that we share the devastating news that our beloved Corrie has passed away.
“He was tragically taken from us in an accident while working on a fairground ride. None of us were prepared for this, and the pain of losing him so suddenly is impossible to put into words.
“Our lives will never be the same without him, but his memory will live on in our hearts forever.
“We love you endlessly Corrie, and we miss you more than words can ever say.
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“You’re with our mam now – rest in peace Corrie.”
The funfair, which is in Whitley Bay’s Spanish City Plaza area, has been shut “until further notice” and the Health and Safety Executive has been informed.
The annual funfair had opened on Thursday and had been due to run until Bank Holiday Monday.