Energy Bills to Drop in April – But Are Families Really Saving?
Energy bills are finally set to fall, offering millions of households a rare moment of relief after years of relentless pressure.
From April, the energy price cap in Great Britain will drop by 7 percent. That means a typical household will pay about £117 less per year, bringing the average annual bill down to £1,641. The change has been confirmed by the regulator Ofgem and it applies across England, Wales and Scotland.
For families on variable tariffs tied to the cap, that works out to roughly £10 less per month for average usage. It is the biggest cut since last summer. And it follows government changes announced in the Budget by Chancellor Rachel Reeves , who shifted some policy costs away from energy bills and into general taxation.
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But here is the reality. The promised £150 annual saving has been reduced. Why? Because the cost of maintaining and upgrading the UK’s energy networks has gone up. So while some charges are being removed from bills, others are rising quietly in the background.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the government is working to ease the cost-of-living burden. Critics argue that moving costs onto taxation does not make them disappear. It simply shifts where people pay.
And even with this drop, energy prices remain about a third higher than they were before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine triggered a global energy shock. Wholesale gas prices are lower than their peak, but they are still volatile. That uncertainty makes it difficult to predict what will happen later this year. Some analysts suggest that this April reduction may be the last significant fall for now.
The savings will not be equal for everyone. Households that use more electricity will see larger reductions because electricity unit rates are falling more sharply than gas. Prepayment meter customers will pay slightly less than those on direct debit. Meanwhile, standing charges for electricity are increasing, even as gas standing charges fall.
And there is another concern. Energy debt across Britain has climbed to more than £4 billion. Many families are still struggling to catch up on arrears built during the worst of the crisis. At the same time, other household bills are rising. Water charges, council tax and everyday living costs continue to squeeze budgets.
So yes, bills are coming down. That matters. But the bigger picture remains complicated and fragile.
Energy prices affect everything, from inflation to economic growth to family stability. What happens next will depend on global markets, domestic policy and how quickly the UK can secure more stable, homegrown energy supplies.
Stay with us for continuing coverage as this story develops and as we track what these changes really mean for households across the country and beyond.
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