People told they're 'overpaying for energy' amid British Gas hack

Uswitch warned "You're paying more right now by not taking action"

UK comparison and switching service Uswitch has urged people to "stop overpaying for your energy" as it shared a deal from British Gas that could undercut the price cap by almost 10%. Ofgem confirmed the price cap for a typical household that uses gas and electricity, and pays by Direct Debit, would rise from £1,568 to £1,717 from the beginning of this month.

In an email to subscribers, Uswitch has now offered a way to "protect against high rates this winter" as it shared a number of cheaper fixed deals. The best of these, with British Gas, comes in at £162 less than the cap, as Uswitch warned: "You're paying more right now by not taking action".

British Gas' The Fixed Tarrif v5 plan has an average annual cost for typical use of £1,555. Uswitch has also highlighted a similar deal with EDF, with its Essentials Fixed 1Yr Oct25v3 tariff coming in at £1,563 for typical use.

And OVO Energy's 1 Year Fixed 03 October 2024 tariff comes in at £1,589 for typical use. The British Gas and OVO deals have an early exit fee of £50 per fuel, while the eDF early exit fee is £25 per fuel. All mentioned tariffs are fixed for a year.

Energy rates are predicted to stay high until April 2025, with EDF anticipating the price cap will be set at £1,721 per year from January 1 until March 31, 2025 - a £4 rise on the current level. Elsewhere, experts at Cornwall Insight expect the cap will drop by 1% to £1,697 in January.

People are reminded that fixed energy tariffs cap the unit rate and standing charge, and are not a cap on the total amount you will pay. Uswitch adds: "Actual bill size will vary depending on your individual household consumption."