Electricity

Energy price hikes are coming thick and fast, so we wanted to update you with the situation right now. Remember - this is the time your usage is at its highest, so check now to see if you can save £100s.

Scottish Power has become the latest big six energy firm to hike prices, with its dual-fuel standard tariff to rise by an average of 7.8% from 31 March. But British Gas has announced it's freezing its standard tariff prices until 1 August.

Energy customers could be given more protection if proposals by regulator Ofgem to introduce additional stress-testing to reduce the chances of suppliers collapsing are acted on later this year.

The levels at which a temporary prepayment price cap that's expected to help four million households save about £80/year have been set by energy regulator Ofgem.

Regulator Ofgem is pushing ahead with plans to encourage customers to find the best energy deals, with a series of trials taking place that will include forcing suppliers to reveal cheaper tariffs offered by rivals.

Small energy supplier Green Energy has harnessed smart meter technology to launch the first 'time-of-day' tariff for domestic customers. But while the tariff offers good value if you're able to be flexible with your electricity use, others could find savings hard to come by.

Energy customers whose accounts were in credit when they closed them have been refunded almost £670 million over the past two years, according to Ofgem figures – which also show £97 million is still owed to in-credit customers. Contact your former supplier ASAP if you think you're among the many consumers owed money.

Energy customers may have to fork out £30 more a year on their bills by 2020 to prevent winter blackouts sweeping the country, a group of MPs has warned.

Just over 1,000 homes in Northern Ireland which were supplied electricity by small provider Open Electric have been transferred to Power NI after the regulator revoked its licence. If you were an Open Electric customer, you won't lose your electricity supply, but it's still unclear if you'll get your money back if you were in credit.