Energy Price Cap
Energy prices for customers on variable tariffs change every quarter in line with Ofgem’s Energy Price Cap. This limits the amount suppliers can charge for Unit Rates and Standing Charges, but how much you pay will still depend on your usage.
Ofgem has announced a change to the energy price cap effective from 1 October. The energy price cap is reviewed every three months by Ofgem, and this sets a limit on how much you can be charged per unit of gas and electricity.
From 1 October 2026, a typical Pay As You Go household will see their energy costs rise to £1,678 per year – but don’t forget, what you pay will always depend on how much energy you use.
Global events including conflicts, have continued to impact gas prices and wider energy markets, which is why the energy prices have increased.
We’ll be in touch to let you know exactly how this impacts your prices. You’ll hear from us regularly as things change, so you always know what’s happening with your energy costs.
We know lots of people are still struggling to afford their energy. We’ve got lots of resources full of support options and advice available if you’re finding it difficult.
The first step is to inform us as soon as possible. Don’t suffer in silence – we might be able to help you immediately over the phone. If not, our help centre has lots of resources including details about the Priority Services Register (PSR), and tips on how to make simple, free changes at home to reduce energy costs.
If you want to talk to us in-person, no problem! Utilita is the only energy supplier with a national network of high street Energy Hubs.
Our best-in-class POWER UP feature on the My Utilita app allows you to apply for a top-up (up to £25 per fuel) at the tap of a finger when you’ve run out of credit and need to get back on supply. Simply repay on your next top-up.
Join the Utilita Community to share your knowledge, get your questions answered and talk all things Utilita with other community members.
Eligible customers can benefit from government-led Warm Home Discount, which gives a one-off discount of £150 to help with winter energy costs for those living on a low income or pension.
Energy saving tips
We’ve got lots of help and advice on how best to reduce your energy usage and bring your costs down – all free to access and free to implement.
Make simple changes to the way you use energy at home and save £££s with our award-winning, national Energy High 5 campaign.
Our Smart Score app feature measures your energy efficiency, based on how it’s used at home. Visualised into a star rating, you’ll get personalised energy advice to help improve it too.
Ofgem is the UK’s independent energy regulator, responsible for setting the Energy Price Cap. We review our prices to make sure what you’re paying is in line with the price cap Ofgem sets.
Ofgem bases its price cap on the amount it costs energy suppliers to buy and deliver gas and electricity to their customers.
This means the price cap accounts for things like buying gas and electricity, maintaining pipes, power lines and meters, and suppliers’ operating costs.
No – what you pay will always depend on your usage, and we’ll do everything we can to help you keep costs down. Remember, if you’re worried about paying for your energy, we’ve got lots of support options and advice available on our help centre.
Lots of customers will see an increase in what they pay for their energy from 1 October, including legacy meter customers. The first top-up you make on or after 1 October is what makes your meter update your prices.
You’ll need to top-up with your Utilita key/card. If you need a new key/card or you don’t have one, visit our Top-Up Card help page.
The Government announced that from 1 October 2026 until 31 March 2027, VAT on electricity bills will be reduced from 5% to 0%.
No! Pay As You Go customers don’t have more expensive tariffs just because of the way they pay for their energy. Actual rates vary by payment method, region and meter type. See our rates in more detail on our tariffs page.
Many different factors affect energy prices, including energy policy, current affairs and weather patterns. Conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have driven up gas prices, for example, by disrupting energy infrastructure.
Despite government support, we understand that you may still face challenges in affording the energy you need. This is why we continue to do all we can to help customers, including: