Britain’s energy watchdog has said it is considering a one-off increase to the energy price cap of up to £17 a year to help prevent suppliers going bust as they face spiralling bad debts. Ofgem said it was launching a consultation on options to protect the energy market after figures in the summer showed that energy debt reached a record £2.6 billion due to soaring wholesale prices and cost-of-living pressures on households.
But it said, if approved, any increase to the cap would be delayed until next April to protect consumers from extra costs during the winter. The energy price cap came down in October meaning on average people should pay less for gas and electricity - although the exact amount you pay is based on how much you use.
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