The price cap will rise by £63 in October, the third increase this year. That brings the typical dual-fuel bill to £1,923 a year, a figure the Daily Express reports Ofgem is now flagging with a new Monday alert for households that need ‘support’. The regulator’s message is blunt: if you are struggling, do not wait.
As reported by Daily Express, the alert is part of Ofgem’s wider campaign to push households toward existing support schemes. But the timing, a Monday, is deliberate: it catches people ahead of the working week, when bill anxiety often peaks.
Who qualifies, and who doesn’t
The Warm Home Discount is the main lever. It gives £150 off electricity bills for low-income households, applied automatically through your supplier if you receive Pension Credit or certain means-tested benefits. Yet Ofgem’s own data shows that around one in five eligible households does not claim it. The alert aims to close that gap.
But the catch is narrow eligibility. If you earn just above the threshold, say, £17,005 a year for a single person on Universal Credit, you get nothing. No discount, no automatic rebate. The government’s Household Support Fund, administered by local councils, can help with food and energy vouchers, but it is patchy and runs out quickly.
What it costs a typical 3-bed semi
Ofgem calculates that the October rise adds £63 to the annual bill of a household using 12,000 kWh of gas and 2,900 kWh of electricity, the typical 3-bed semi. That is about £5.25 a month extra. For a home with poor insulation, say, an EPC rating of D or E, the real increase may be higher because the cap only limits unit rates, not total usage.
Energy Saving Trust figures show that draught-proofing alone can save £60 a year on a typical semi. Insulating a loft to 270 mm can save up to £225. The irony is that the same households that need bill support are often those living in the leakiest homes.
What you should do by Monday week
Ofgem’s alert is a nudge, not a new scheme. But it comes with a clear deadline mindset: check your eligibility for the Warm Home Discount before October. Applications for the 2024–25 winter round are open now. Contact your supplier if you are on a prepayment meter, some offer emergency credit or debt write-offs.
For homeowners considering upgrades, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme still pays £7,500 off a heat pump installation, though installer wait times vary. The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing. Both are separate from Ofgem’s alert but address the same problem: the cost of keeping warm.
Households on standard variable tariffs can check support via gov.uk from now. Eligibility for the Warm Home Discount closes on 31 March 2025 for this winter. Do not wait for the next Monday alert.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can check eligibility on gov.uk or contact your energy supplier. The discount is automatic for most people on Pension Credit or certain means-tested benefits, but you may need to confirm your details if you have not received it before.
Yes. The October rise adds about £5.25 a month to a typical bill. If your direct debit is recalculated, your supplier must notify you in advance. You can ask for a payment plan if you are struggling.
