Chamber News
Energy Price Guarantee expected to continue at same level in April
6 March 2023 • Sarah Medcraf
The chancellor Jeremy Hunt is expected to extend the Energy Price Guarantee at current levels for a further three months.
Typical household energy bills were scheduled to rise to £3,000 a year from April, but calls have been made for the UK government to retain its current level of support with the cap at £2,500.
The level of help is now expected to be maintained, but energy firms have been asked to prepare for both scenarios.
The Treasury has declined to comment.
At the moment, the government is limiting the typical household bill to £2,500 a year, plus a £400 winter discount.
From 1 April the help is scheduled to be scaled back, and the £400 discount will come to an end, which could push people's bills up despite the weather getting warmer.
Fuel poverty campaigners have said the number of households struggling to afford bills could rise from 6.7 million to 8.4 million as a result of the April rise.
However, industry sources told the BBC that some energy companies have already started amending future bills to reflect that energy help will continue at or very near to current levels beyond 1 April.