MILLIONS of Brits will have to fork out up to £96 more for their energy bill after a raft of energy companies have hiked prices up.

Scottish Power, EDF, and EOn customers could see their bills jump up by up to 9% as suppliers up prices in line with Ofgem’s new £1,138 energy price cap.

Millions of customers will be paying extra from April 1

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Millions of customers will be paying extra from April 1Credit: Alamy

The regulator announced earlier this month it was upping the maximum price suppliers can charge for gas and electricity from £1,042 a year to £1,138 a year.

The cap affects around 11million households on standard variable tariffs.

Around 4million households on prepayment meters will also see bills rise by £87, to £1,156.

The move has led energy giants to up their prices from April 1.

What to do if you can’t pay your bills

FALLING behind on your energy bills can be extremely stressful.

If you’re struggling to pay what you owe, contact your supplier as soon as possible.

Your provider has to help you come up with a solution, and you should be able to negotiate a deal that works for you both.

One option is to agree a payment plan where you pay off your debts in affordable instalments.

You may be able to pay off your debts directly from your benefits through the Fuel Direct Scheme.

A fixed amount will automatically be taken to cover what you owe plus your usage.

To be eligible, you must be getting one of the following benefits:

  • Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
  • Income support
  • income-related employment and support allowance
  • Pension credit
  • Universal Credit (but only if you’re not working)

If you cannot come to an agreement with your supplier, they may try to force you to get a prepayment meter installed.

In very rare cases, where you refuse to negotiate, your supplier might threaten you with disconnection.

EDF customers will pay an extra £96 a year, up from £1,042 to £1,138.

Customers on prepayment meters could also see their bill increase by upto £87.

Instead of paying £1,069, these customers will see prices rise 8% after EDF bumped prices up to meet the £1,156 price cap. 

However, how much each individual customer will pay will ultimately vary on their consumption and payment method.

The spokesperson added: “In the face of sharp increases in the costs to supply energy, we have already seen two suppliers collapse this year and as a sustainable, long-term business it is critical that we reflect the costs we face. 

“We promise our customers that we will continue to offer a range of long-term, fixed tariffs, that guarantee a consistent price of energy for the duration of the tariff.”

EOn has also increased prices by the same amount as EDF to meet the price cap too.

Customers paying for both gas and electricity on a standard variable tariff could see their bill rise to £1,138, up 9% from £1,042.

This means these customers could be paying £96 more a year.

Scottish Power has also confirmed to The Sun that is it to increase prices.

Customers on standard variable tariffs – roughly a third of the supplier’s customers – will be paying a maximum of £1,138 a year for their energy bill.

Scottish Power hasn’t confirmed exactly how much more customers will be paying per year, but we have asked for more details and we will update you as soon as we have more information.

It comes after British Gas also announced a rise of £97.

Around 2.3million customers could see their yearly bill rise from £1,041 to £1,138 after the energy giant hiked its price cap up to meet Ofgem’s.

Ofgem urged households to shop around for the cheapest energy deals when it announced the price cap rise.

It said families can save an average of £150 a year by going for a fixed-rate tariff.

According to EnergyHelpline.com, the cheapest fixed deal currently available is the £890 a year Fleming tariff from Green.

If you’re struggling to pay your bills, we’ve rounded up seven ways to cut energy costs and save HUNDREDS of pounds a year.

Plus, here is how to get help paying your energy bills – and save over £1,000.

If you’re a pensioner, you can receive annual one-off winter fuel payments from the government of between £100 and £300.

Energy price cap to rise to £1,138 a year – but switch now to save £150

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk

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