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Scottish Sun
23-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Energy bills set to drop by £130 for thousands of Scots – but there's a catch
BILLS BOOST Energy bills set to drop by £130 for thousands of Scots – but there's a catch ENERGY bills for a typical household are set to fall by seven per cent, it emerged today. Regulator Ofgem announced the price cap will be reduced from July meaning typical charges will drop from £1,849 to £1,720. 2 Energy bills are set to fall by seven per cent in July Credit: PA But consumer experts warned households will still be nearly £600 worse off than before the energy crisis despite bills falling by £129. And charities warned that the energy market is still "broken", while growing numbers of Scots households were in arrears with power bills. The new price cap is still £582 more than the £1,138 level before the energy crisis hit in autumn 2021 - an increase of 51 per cent. Conor Forbes, policy director at Advice Direct Scotland, said: 'News of lower gas and electricity prices is always welcome, but it is cold comfort for customers who are paying so much more than they were before the energy crisis began. 'Many people are still struggling with the cost of living and are saddled with energy-related debts, and it could still be years before energy prices fall to pre-crisis levels." Citizens Advice Scotland chief executive Derek Mitchell said: 'Our energy market is broken, and thousands of people are facing mounting energy debt. 'We need to see long-term solutions that will enable all of us to heat our homes in a way that's affordable. We have called for a new social tariff to be applied to bills for low-income households, and for a robust energy debt write-off scheme to help those people who were forced into debt just to pay their bills." Tim Jarvis, director general of markets at Ofgem, said: "A fall in the price cap will be welcome news for consumers, and reflects a reduction in the international price of wholesale gas. However, we're acutely aware that prices remain high, and some continue to struggle with the cost of energy." Offgen reminded householders that they don't have to pay the price cap as "there are better deals out". Mr Jarvis added: "It's important to shop around, and talk to your existing supplier about the best deal they can offer you. And changing your payment method to direct debit or smart pay as you go can save you up to £136." From TV to energy... tips to save you money on 7 bills that are going up in April The price cap began to rise in October 2021 when wholesale gas prices increased by 50 per cent. In February 2022, Russia's invasion of Ukraine plunged energy markets into turmoil, and the cap peaked at £4,279 in January 2023. Before last July's General Election, Sir Keir Starner said people should be saving around £400 to £500 on their bills by 2029 due to his plans for renewables investment via GB Energy. But doubt has been cast on whether the public-owned firm can prompt a fall in household costs, partly due to wider global forces buffeting energy markets. The price cap news comes after whopping bill increases including council tax - up by average of 9.6 per cent, or £135 for a Band D home- and Scottish Water charges rising by 9.9 per cent or an average of £44.
Daily Record
23-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Scots set to pay £500 more on energy bills this year despite new Ofgem price cap
Ofgem has announced the price cap will fall from £1,849 to £1,720 on July 1. Ofgem has announced household energy bills will fall by seven per cent this summer. The industry regulator confirmed on Friday that annual energy bills for millions of households on the standard tariff - with typical average usage - will drop from £1,849 to £1,720 from July 1 - a reduction of £129 over the coming year (£10.75 per month). However, Advice Direct Scotland, which runs the national energy advice service warned that Scottish households are still paying over £500 a year more for gas and electricity than they were before the energy crisis hit, despite a fall in the energy price cap. The charity said while the fall was welcome, many people are still struggling with record levels of debt after new figures found that it received 2,580 inquiries related to energy debt and disconnections in the 12 months to April 2025, a 59 per cent increase on the level recorded two years earlier in 2023. Advice Direct Scotland is urging anyone worried about energy-related debt to contact its team of experts, who can provide free, impartial, and practical advice. It has been campaigning for a social energy tariff to be introduced across the UK, which would automatically put the most vulnerable customers on the cheapest deals. Eligibility for such a tariff could be determined by factors such as whether members of a household are in receipt of benefits or are on low incomes. Conor Forbes, policy director at Advice Direct Scotland, said: 'News of lower gas and electricity prices is always welcome, but it is cold comfort for customers who are paying so much more than they were before the energy crisis began. 'Many people are still struggling with the cost of living and are saddled with energy-related debts, and it could still be years before energy prices fall to pre-crisis levels. 'We'd encourage people to do whatever they can to keep their bills down, by finding out exactly how much they are paying and checking if there are cheaper options available. 'Taking regular meter readings and monitoring the level of your direct debit are as important as ever. If you have a smart meter, ensure it's working. 'However, a longer-term solution to the scourge of fuel poverty is a UK-wide social energy tariff, which would automatically put vulnerable people on the cheapest deal. 'The important thing to remember is that nobody should struggle alone, and help is available. Anyone experiencing difficulties should visit or call 0808 196 8660 for assistance.' Advice Direct Scotland is also highlighting differences in regional standing charges, putting Scottish consumers at a disadvantage. Revised standing charges from July will result in residents in southern Scotland paying 54.25 pence per day for electricity, compared to their counterparts in London who will pay 43.76 pence. A larger proportion of Scots also lack access to the gas grid, relying on the more expensive electric rate for heating and cooking. In southern Scotland, the gas unit rate will decrease to 6.27 pence per kilowatt-hour (kWh), while electricity will be priced at 24.53 pence.
Daily Record
13-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Hundreds of struggling Dumfries and Galloway households seeking advice with energy problems
Advice Direct Scotland has revealed it dealt with more than 700 gas and electricity related complaints over the past 12 months. Hundreds of struggling households in Dumfries and Galloway have looked for help with energy problems in the past 12 months. Advice Direct Scotland has revealed it dealt with more than 700 gas and electricity related complaints between April 2024 and April this year. Issues included incorrect bills, debt and disconnection, while there has also been a surge in inquiries about the switch-off of radio teleswitch service (RTS) meters at the end of June. The charity, which runs the service, dealt with more than 200 billing issues and had 180 enquiries classed as general advice or information. Director of policy with Advice Direct Scotland, Conor Forbes, said: 'These figures show that the energy crisis is far from over and underscore the alarming scale of the cost-of-living crisis. 'As Scotland's national energy advice service, we've seen significant demand from people across Dumfries and Galloway seeking help with bills, debts, and disconnections. 'Since the start of the year, we've also seen increasing concerns about the looming switch-off of RTS meters. 'With the June 30 deadline approaching, it's crucial that anyone still using these meters contacts their supplier to avoid losing heating or hot water. 'Despite the warmer weather, many people are still struggling financially, and assistance is just a phone call away. 'Our advisers can help with understanding energy bills, meter issues, and direct people to the support and benefits they're entitled to." provides free, practical advice and information on energy-related matters to anyone in Scotland, ranging from supplier inquiries and understanding the complaints process, to what to do if experiencing problems with energy bills. The team can be contacted on 0808 196 8660 (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm), or through their website.
The Independent
31-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Almost half of Scots worried about energy bills as price cap rises, poll finds
Almost half of Scots are worried about being able to afford their energy bills over the coming year, according to a new survey. The Survation poll, conducted for charity Advice Direct Scotland, found 46% of people are concerned about their ability to pay for gas or electricity over the next 12 months. The survey of 1,012 people was published ahead of the latest Ofgem price cap rise, which will take effect from Tuesday. The level of the cap is rising from £1,738 to £1,849, an increase of 6.4%, which will put average bills up by £111 per year. The new cap is £711 higher than what households were paying in the autumn of 2021, an increase of 62%. Advice Direct Scotland is urging anyone struggling with energy-related debt to contact its team of experts for free, impartial and practical advice. The charity says Scots should try to submit meter readings to their energy supplier before the end of Monday. It is also urging households to review how much they are paying and check whether there are better tariffs available. Conor Forbes, policy director at Advice Direct Scotland, said: 'It has been a really tough start to the year for thousands of Scottish households and this poll shows that worries about the cost of energy continue to prey on people's minds. 'Unfortunately, things are going to get even more difficult this week as the Ofgem price cap rises again, heaping further pressure onto already stretched household budgets. 'It's important for people to focus on the practical things they can do, such as taking a meter reading around April 1, which will ensure that they are charged correctly. 'Taking a dated photo of your meter can help too, and if you have a smart meter, check it's working properly. Consumers should also review their bills and see if better deals are available. 'The most important thing to remember is that nobody should struggle alone and help is available. 'Anyone experiencing difficulties should visit or call 0808 196 8660 for assistance.'
