● Experts have this morning forecast a third consecutive price cap rise in January[1] moments after Ofgem confirmed the October energy price cap[2]

● Cornwall Insight predicts the January 2027 price cap will rise 9% to £1,872 – 18% higher than January 2026's £1,584 cap[1]

● The cheapest fixed tariff on the market, a 14-month fix from Fuse Energy, is priced at £1,550 for a typical home – already £173 below the new October cap[3]

● Half of households (53%) say they are worried about affording their heating this winter, while a quarter (25%) feel powerless, uncovers new Uswitch.com research[4]

● Uswitch.com is urging households on standard tariffs to compare deals now and lock in a fixed rate before prices climb again in January.

Experts this morning predicted that the energy price cap could rise another 9% in January to £1,872[1], which would be the third consecutive quarterly hike following today’s Ofgem announcement of the 4% increase in October.

Households could still save £173 a year by switching to the cheapest fixed energy tariff on the market compared to the new £1,723 October price cap, reveals new analysis by Uswitch.com, the comparison and switching service.

The regulator confirmed this morning that the price cap will rise 4% from £1,663 to £1,723 for a typical dual-fuel household paying by direct debit from 1 October. That's £147 – or 9% – more than the same period last winter, when the October cap stood at £1,576[1] – and will come just as millions of homes start reaching for the thermostat again.

From October, the government's cut to VAT on electricity bills, from 5% to 0%, will shave around £45 a year off the average bill, regardless of tariff type – which means this cap level isn’t as high as it might have been, but it hasn’t been enough to hold off price cap hikes.

Despite the higher cap, there are still fixed tariffs on the market that undercut it. The cheapest, a 14-month fix from Fuse Energy, is priced at £1,550 for a typical home – around 10% below the new cap[3]. There are currently 17 fixed deals available that beat the new October rate, offering households certainty over what they'll pay through the coldest months, regardless of what happens to wholesale prices next.

Source: Uswitch.com

Energy suppliers are already pointing to a third consecutive price cap rise in January 2027, with Cornwall Insight this morning suggesting a 9% hike from October is likely[1]. Other predictions from suppliers point even higher, with EDF saying £1,932, E.ON Next suggesting £1,941, and British Gas at £1,970[1].

On average, supplier predictions suggest the average bill could be £285 (17%) higher than today's July rate, and as much as £365 (23%) higher than the cap households faced last January.

The changing consumer energy mindset

Uswitch has been tracking how households feel about their energy bills throughout 2026, providing regular snapshots of consumer sentiment as prices and market conditions have changed.

At the start of the year, Uswitch research found half of households (48%) said constant news about energy prices, the price cap, wars and global events had made it harder to know what to do to get the best deal, while more than one in three (36%) said they had avoided switching tariffs because they were worried about making the wrong decision[6].

By late spring, that uncertainty had shifted towards resignation: almost a quarter (23%) said they felt powerless about rising energy prices, 22% believed higher bills were simply unavoidable, and a fifth (20%) said comparing tariffs felt too daunting[7].

Faced with rising energy bills this autumn, over a quarter (28%) of households say they feel angry about having to continue to pay high rates, while 25% feel powerless and do not feel there is much more they can do to reduce bills further[4].

Over half of energy bill-payers (53%) are worried about their ability to afford the cost of heating their home this coming winter, rising to two-thirds of Gen Z and Millennials (63% and 65%)[4].

Three-quarters of consumers (73%) took steps to cut down their energy bills last winter, most commonly by turning the heating down (39%), wearing extra layers of clothing instead of putting the heating on (37%) and only heating a couple of rooms in their house (22%). Worryingly, 14% cut back on other essential spending, 13% dipped into savings to pay the bills and 7% kept the heating off all winter[8] .

Despite the growing concern about rising winter bills, only 22% say they have already switched, fixed or taken steps to lower their bills[9].

The pattern so far suggests households are moving from confusion earlier in the year towards a growing sense of resignation. Uswitch's concern is that this leads to financial pain once the heating goes back on and higher prices become impossible to ignore.

Uswitch.com is urging anyone still on a standard tariff to run a comparison now, rather than wait for a bill that reflects the new cap – or January's predicted rise – to land.

Sabrina Hoque, energy expert at Uswitch.com, comments: ”Experts confirmed this morning that they expect the price cap to rise a further 9% in January, which would make it a third consecutive hike in standard tariff energy rates.

"Households on a standard variable tariff who don’t make the crucial switch to a fixed tariff risk paying more for their heating this winter.

“With 17 deals currently undercutting the October price cap by up to £173, there is plenty of choice for households wanting to pay less and protect themselves from any future increases.

"Several of the most competitive deals, including the market-leading Fuse Energy tariff, are available through Uswitch. Running a quick energy comparison will show you exactly what's available for your household based on your personal usage and is the best way to find a cheaper rate."

Compare fixed energy deals now at Uswitch.co

For further information, please contact:

Rianna York, Uswitch.com on 07795 343628 / rianna.york@rvu.co.uk

David Bullock, Blue Chip PR on 07762 079 092 / david@bluechipcontent.co.uk

Notes to editors

Research conducted online by Opinium, 18th to 24th August 2026, among 2,000 UK energy bill-payers, weighted to be nationally representative.

1. Cornwall Insight: Bills to Climb in October, With Worse to Come in January. January 2027 supplier price cap predictions – EDF £1,932, E.ON Next £1,941, and British Gas £1,970. Source: supplier price cap forecasting services, updated 24-26 August 2026.

2. Ofgem, energy price cap announcement, 26 August 2026: October 2026 cap of £1,723 for a typical dual-fuel household paying by direct debit with paperless billing, up from £1,663 in July 2026 (+4%) and £1,576 in October 2025 (+£147 / +9%).

3. Uswitch.com data. Please contact prteam@uswitch.com for deals information

4. Households were asked 'Energy prices are expected to rise in October for anyone not locked into a fixed contract. Which of the following best describes how you feel about rising energy prices?' 28% said angry, 25% said powerless, 22% said resigned, 21% said let down, 16% said anxious, 16% said overwhelmed, 15% said calm, 14% said stressed, 12% said determined, 6% said unaware and 6% said none of the above.

5. Government VAT cut on domestic electricity (5% to 0%), effective 1 October 2026 to March 2027; applies regardless of tariff type. Gas remains unaffected.

6. Research conducted online by Opinium, 13th to 18th March 2026, among 2,002 UK energy bill-payers, weighted to be nationally representative.

7. Research conducted online by Opinium, 17th - 22nd April 2026, among 2,000 UK energy bill-payers, weighted to be nationally representative.

8. Respondents were asked 'Thinking back to last winter, which, if any, of the following did you do to support with your energy bills?' 39% said Turned the heating down, 37% said Wore extra layers of clothes instead of putting the heating on, 22% said Only heated a couple of rooms in my home, 14% said Cut back on other essentials (e.g. food, transport) to cover energy costs, 13% said Used savings to cover energy bills, 10% said Spent time in other places (e.g. public spaces, friends/family’s home, work) to save on heating at home, 7% said Kept the heating off all winter, 5% said Borrowed money or used credit cards to cover energy bills, 5% said Contacted my supplier to explain I was struggling with bills, 1% said Other, 27% said N/A – I didn’t do anything to support with my energy bills

9. Respondents were asked 'Energy prices are expected to rise in October for anyone not locked into a fixed contract. Which of the following best describes your actions in regards to rising energy prices?' 22% said 'I've already switched, fixed my tariff, or taken steps to lower my bills', 16% said 'I will not be impacted by energy price rises', 14% said 'I'm aware energy prices are rising and waiting to see what happens before taking any action', 12% said 'I'm planning to switch tariff or take steps to reduce my bills before the price rise', 12% said 'I'm aware energy prices are rising but feel there's nothing I can do', 10% said 'I'm aware energy prices are rising but haven't decided what to do yet', 7% said 'I wasn’t aware energy prices were expected to rise', 8% said 'I don’t know'.

About Uswitch

Uswitch is one of the UK’s top comparison websites for home services switching. For more than 25 years, our experts have been doing more to get people a better deal on their energy, broadband and mobiles. In fact, we’ve saved our customers over £2.7 billion off their energy bills since we launched in 2000.

With the Uswitch app, you can connect your smart meter and let the app watch your home for you: track usage, find better deals, manage bills, and earn free electricity.

Uswitch is part of RVU, a group of online brands with a mission to empower consumers to make more confident home services, insurance and financial decisions.

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