The average gas bill will climb by £221 this year, the equivalent of a week’s shopping for a family of four. Campaigners have labelled the increase ‘greedy,’ pointing to bumper profits at the largest suppliers. But for homeowners in East Anglia and beyond, the anger is personal: that £221 is money that could have gone into home improvements, savings, or simply keeping the house warm.
As reported by the East Anglian Daily Times, the rise is being blamed on wholesale gas costs and supplier margins. Ofgem’s price cap, which limits how much suppliers can charge per unit, will adjust to reflect these higher costs. The result: a typical household on a standard variable tariff will pay around £1,928 a year for gas and electricity combined, up from £1,707.
Who is paying the price, and who is profiting
The £221 figure applies to a typical 3-bed semi using 12,000 kWh of gas per year. But the pain is not evenly spread. Homes with poor insulation, those built before the 1990s, with single glazing or uninsulated lofts, use far more gas to stay warm. Their bills could rise by over £300 annually. Meanwhile, the five largest energy suppliers reported combined profits of £2.8 billion last year, according to filings seen by industry analysts. The catch is that these profits are not all ‘excess’: suppliers face higher costs for buying gas on international markets, which they must pass on. Yet campaigners argue that margins on standard tariffs have crept up, adding roughly £50 to the typical bill.
What it costs a typical 3-bed semi, and how to fight back
For a 3-bed semi with gas central heating, the £221 rise translates to about £18.40 extra per month. That is roughly the cost of a takeaway or a streaming bundle. But over a year, it is enough to pay for loft insulation (typically £300-£400 installed) or a smart thermostat (£150-£250). The Energy Saving Trust estimates that loft insulation alone can cut gas usage by 20-30%, saving up to £150 per year on bills. Cavity wall insulation adds another £100-£150 in savings. For homeowners with an EPC rating of D or lower, these upgrades can push the rating to C or B, increasing property value by an estimated 5-10%.
Long-term upgrades: heat pumps and solar panels
Gas price volatility is not going away. The UK imports around 50% of its gas, leaving households exposed to global price shocks. Heat pumps, which run on electricity and are three to four times more efficient than gas boilers, offer a hedge. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives homeowners £7,500 off the installation cost, which typically ranges from £7,000 to £14,000. Solar panels, at about £5,000-£8,000 for a 4 kW system, can cut electricity bills by £200-£300 per year and earn money through the Smart Export Guarantee. But these are upfront investments, not everyone has £5,000 spare. The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing.
Households on standard variable tariffs can switch to a fixed deal now to lock in lower rates. Ofgem’s price cap will rise again in October, so fixing could save £50-£100 per year. Check your current tariff end date, exit fees may apply. For those unable to switch, the priority is reducing gas use: draught-proofing windows and doors, lowering the thermostat by 1°C (saves about £80 per year), and bleeding radiators. The £221 rise is painful, but it is a prompt to act. By the time the next price cap change arrives in October, every household can have made at least one cost-saving upgrade, and kept that money in their own pocket.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the price rise itself does not change your EPC rating. But if you spend the £221 on insulation or heating controls, you can improve your rating by one or two bands. The Energy Saving Trust says loft insulation alone can lift a D-rated home to a C.
Yes. The Warm Home Discount provides £150 off electricity bills for low-income households. The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing. Contact your supplier or check gov.uk for eligibility.
