Twelve Months of Energy Price Changes: Is It Time to Take More Control?

For households across Yorkshire, keeping track of energy prices has become increasingly difficult.

Over the past 12 months, the Energy Price Cap has risen, fallen and risen again. Each new announcement has brought another set of figures, predictions and questions about whether prices will be higher or lower in the months ahead.

It is easy to view each announcement in isolation. However, when we look back over the whole year, the bigger story is not simply that prices have increased. It is that household energy costs remain unpredictable and are still being influenced by events far beyond our control.

That raises an important question: if we cannot control what happens in the wider energy market, what can we do to gain more control over the energy we use and buy?

First, what is the Energy Price Cap?

The Energy Price Cap applies to standard or default variable tariffs in England, Scotland and Wales. According to MoneySavingExpert, around 60% of households are currently on one of these tariffs.

Despite its name, the Price Cap does not place a limit on the total amount you can be charged. It limits the unit rates and standing charges energy suppliers can apply.

The more energy you use, the more you will pay.

The Cap changes every three months, which means household energy costs can move four times within a single year. Rates also vary slightly by region, so the exact amount paid by a Yorkshire household will depend on its location, tariff, payment method and energy consumption.

October 2025: bills increased by 2%

In October 2025, the Price Cap for a typical dual-fuel household paying by Direct Debit increased by 2%, taking the annualised figure to £1,755.

MoneySavingExpert reported that this increase was driven largely by higher standing charges—the fixed daily amounts households pay before using any gas or electricity.

At the time, average electricity standing charges increased by 4.5%, while average gas standing charges rose by 14.1%.

This was an important reminder that using less energy does not remove every cost from a household bill. Standing charges continue to be paid every day, regardless of how much energy is used.

Read MoneySavingExpert’s October 2025 Price Cap report

 

January 2026: a small headline rise hid a bigger electricity increase

The Price Cap increased again in January 2026, although the headline rise was only 0.2%. The annualised figure for a typical dual-fuel household paying by Direct Debit became £1,758.

However, Martin Lewis warned that the small overall percentage did not tell the full story.

While average gas unit rates fell, average electricity unit rates increased by 5.1%. Electricity standing charges also rose by 2%.

This meant households with higher electricity consumption—including some homes without mains gas, as well as households using electric heating or charging an electric vehicle—could experience a larger increase than the headline figure suggested.

Read MoneySavingExpert’s January 2026 Price Cap report

April 2026: welcome relief, but not the end of the uncertainty

April brought some welcome news. The Price Cap fell by 6.7%, bringing the annualised typical household figure down to £1,641.

Average electricity unit rates fell from 27.69p to 24.67p per kilowatt-hour, while average gas unit rates reduced from 5.93p to 5.74p per kilowatt-hour.

This reduction gave households some temporary relief. However, it also demonstrated how quickly the direction of the market can change.

A household trying to plan its annual budget had already experienced two increases followed by a sizeable reduction—all within six months.

Read MoneySavingExpert’s April 2026 Price Cap report

 

July 2026: the Price Cap rose by 12.6%

The picture changed significantly again in July.

MoneySavingExpert reported that Price Cap rates increased by 12.6%, with the rise linked mainly to higher wholesale energy costs. Average gas unit rates rose particularly sharply, increasing by around 28%, while electricity unit rates increased by approximately 6%.

You may have seen the July Price Cap described as £1,663—only slightly more than April’s £1,641 figure. However, these headline amounts should not be compared directly.

Ofgem changed its definition of “typical use” from July 2026, lowering the amount of energy assumed in the headline calculation. Under the previous typical-use figures, the July Cap would have been approximately £1,862.

The underlying rates—not the headline figure—show the true scale of the increase.

There was one small consolation: July to September is normally a lower-use period. MoneySavingExpert estimates that households typically consume only around 15% of their annual energy during these three months.

The bigger concern was what might happen if the higher rates continued into winter.

Read MoneySavingExpert’s July 2026 Price Cap report

 

October 2026: another rise as winter approaches

In October 2025, the Price Cap for a typical dual-fuel household paying by Direct Debit increased by 2%, taking the annualised figure to £1,755.

MoneySavingExpert reported that this increase was driven largely by higher standing charges—the fixed daily amounts households pay before using any gas or electricity.

At the time, average electricity standing charges increased by 4.5%, while average gas standing charges rose by 14.1%.

This was an important reminder that using less energy does not remove every cost from a household bill. Standing charges continue to be paid every day, regardless of how much energy is used.

Read MoneySavingExpert’s October 2025 Price Cap report

What has the past year shown us?

The last 12 months have not produced one simple, continuous price rise.

Instead, households have experienced:

• An increase in October 2025

• A further increase in January 2026

• A reduction in April

• A sharp rise in July

• Another confirmed increase for October 2026

That constant movement makes household budgeting difficult.

It also shows why waiting for energy prices to become permanently “normal” may not provide the certainty people hope for. Wholesale prices, international events, network costs, government policies and changes to the Price Cap calculation can all affect what appears on our bills.

At the time of writing, MoneySavingExpert says forecasts for January 2027 point towards another substantial increase. However, it also stresses that these remain early predictions and could change before Ofgem confirms the next Cap.

What can households control?

None of us can control wholesale gas prices, international conflicts or future government policy.

What households can do is look at the amount of electricity they need to purchase from the grid.

Solar panels allow a home to generate electricity from daylight. When that electricity is used in the property, it replaces electricity that would otherwise have been bought from an energy supplier.

Battery storage can allow surplus solar generation to be saved and used later in the day—for example, during the evening when electricity use may be higher but the panels are no longer generating.

Depending on the system, tariff and household usage, a battery may also be charged when grid electricity is cheaper and used when prices are higher.

Any surplus electricity that is not used or stored may be exported to the grid, potentially earning payments through an eligible export tariff.

Solar does not make every energy cost disappear

It is important to be realistic.

Solar panels and battery storage do not guarantee that a household will never receive another electricity bill. Most homes will still need electricity from the grid at certain times, particularly during darker winter months.

Standing charges will also remain, and savings will vary depending on:

• The size, direction and condition of the roof

• Shading around the property

• The number and performance of the panels

• The household’s electricity consumption

• When that electricity is used

• Whether battery storage is installed

• Import and export tariff rates

• How well the system has been designed around the household

This is why a proper survey and an honest assessment of the household’s energy use are so important.

Is now the time to make a change?

There may never be a perfect moment when every future energy price is known.

The experience of the past 12 months shows how quickly the market can change—and how little direct control households have over those changes.

Choosing solar is not about reacting to one Price Cap announcement. It is a longer-term decision about generating more electricity at home, buying less from the grid and reducing exposure to future price movements.

For some Yorkshire households, solar panels and battery storage could provide meaningful long-term savings. For others, the property, budget or pattern of electricity use may mean a different approach is more suitable.

The important thing is to start with reliable information.

At ASK Renewables, we believe customers should understand what a system can realistically deliver before making a decision. That means carrying out a proper assessment, listening to how the household uses energy and explaining the options without pressure or confusing jargon.

Energy prices may continue to change. Generating more of your own electricity could help you gain greater control over how those changes affect your household.

Disclaimer

Figures were correct at the time of writing in September 2026. Price Cap amounts are annualised Great Britain averages based on typical use and Direct Debit payment. They are not maximum bills or guaranteed household costs. Exact rates and savings vary by region, tariff, property and energy consumption.