Why we are facing a crisis

Inflation measures how fast costs have risen year on year, expressed as a percentage.  According to the ONS (Office for National Statistics) the most recent rate of inflation was recorded in September 2022 as 10.1 percent. This means that the cost of everyday essentials is around 10.1 percent higher than in September 2021. 

• As countries recover from the pandemic, the demand for oil and gas is outstripping available supply. The Ukraine conflict has exacerbated this because a large amount of our supply usually comes from Russia.
• Wholesale energy prices have reached an all-time high and energy providers are passing those costs on to consumers.
• There have been disruptions to global supply chains, partly driven by Brexit and the pandemic.
• There are reduced staffing levels across a range of businesses and public services for the same reasons.

These pressures meant that back in April 22:

• OFGEM raised the energy price cap by 54 percent
• National insurance increased by 10 percent
• A freeze was placed on the income tax threshold
• Benefits were increased by around 6 percent less than the rate of inflation

And this has meant that other prices have risen – rents, food and other household items. It’s likely that the full effect of price rises will only really be felt as the colder weather comes in and we all start to need more gas and electricity.

Demand exceeding available supply has made energy more costly to purchase. As a result, energy companies have faced higher costs and have passed these on to customers in the form of higher energy bills. 

About the price cap

Prices increased dramatically in April after energy regulator Ofgem lifted the energy price cap. The energy price cap limits how much energy suppliers are allowed to charge their customers, and this rose by 54 percent in April. The price cap rose again on 1st October. The government has now committed to freezing the price at this level until 2024.

Our bills are NOT capped at £2,500

It’s common to read that the price of energy is capped at around £2,500. This might confuse some people into thinking that your bill cannot be higher than this when in fact it is a figure based on average use. An easier way to understand how much your costs will rise is to look at the cost per unit of energy along with your daily standing charge and compare what you paid before October with what you will pay going forward.

And remember, the price rise that was applied in April 22 won’t have been fully felt during the warmer months. So, whilst the most recent increases may look small when applied to individual units, it quickly adds up.

See tables below for price caps in Southern Scotland:

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