Summer shock as energy bills jump by up to £264.61 in June

Families could be hit with annual energy price rises of up to £264.61 this summer as several fixed dual fuel energy tariffs come to an end on 30 June. Of the 16 fixed deals expiring, nine will result in homes paying more for their energy if they allow themselves to be automatically rolled onto their supplier’s standard variable tariff.

British Gas, EDF Energy, Npower, Ovo Energy, Sainsbury’s Energy and Scottish Power all have tariffs due to expire, resulting an average annual rise of £97.92 (12.24%).  Those biggest hit will be Npower customers in the Midlands on the Fixed Energy June 2016 who will see an average increase of £264.61 (31.75%).

While many households will see their energy bills jump up when their tariffs expires, not all tariffs ending in June will result in price rises. This is because in some instances the supplier’s standard variable tariff is cheaper than the fixed deal that is expiring. However, the average amount customers on these deals will save is just £37.48 (3.3%). In comparison, families could save up to £207 by shopping around for a new energy provider.

Ben Wilson, energy spokesperson at Gocompare.com, said: “"As the summer sets in it can be easy to forget about your energy bills. However, it’s important to keep on top of when your fixed deal ends or risk being put on a standard tariff.

“The energy market has changed significantly following the arrival of smaller suppliers who have dominated the best buy tables for quite some time now. While it’s tempting to stick to a company with a more established name, these new suppliers are out to lure customers away from the ‘big six’ and are offering significant saving as an incentive to switch.

“A typical household could save as much as £207 a year by switching their gas and electricity provider, proving that loyalty doesn’t pay when it comes to your energy supplier. Comparing energy tariffs online is quick and easy to do, making it well worth setting aside a few minutes to see how your provider stacks up against the rest of the market.”