UK Households Face £276 Energy Bill Hike as Prices Set to Soar

Hundreds of thousands of households in the UK are bracing for their largest energy bill increase in four years, according to a new forecast.

Cornwall Insight predicts that the typical annual household energy bill will rise by £276 in January, marking a 16% increase from current levels.

This would be the biggest jump in bills since 2019 and comes at a time when households are already struggling with cold weather and post-Christmas bank balances.

The forecast is based on disruption to gas supplies caused by the conflict in the Middle East, which has led to low storage levels in Europe.

Energy regulator Ofgem will announce the actual January price change later this month, but experts say a big increase is 'all but certain'.