Ofgem Archives - COOLCURATION

May 30, 2026 — No Comments

Energy Price Cap July 2026: 13% Rise and What you can do

Last updated: 30 May 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

The energy price cap July 2026 is going up by 13% from 1 July, and for a typical dual-fuel household paying by direct debit that means an annual bill of £1,862, which is £221 more than today. In other words, you have roughly five weeks to do something about it before the new rates land. Here is the good bit, though: for most people this rise is voluntary, because a fixed deal below the cap can sidestep it entirely.

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Energy Price Cap Update: 13% increase from 1 July

A typical dual-fuel bill rises from £1,641 to £1,862 a year, about £18 a month more.

You have until 30 June to fix.

13%
cap increase

£1,862
new annual cap

£221
extra per year

Energy prices, tariffs, and the Ofgem price cap change quarterly. This post reflects the Q3 2026 cap announced 27 May 2026. Always verify current rates with your supplier or at ofgem.gov.uk.

Published by Stiv in Energy, Money saving, Personal finance

Tags: energy bills, energy price cap, fixed energy tariff, gas prices, octopus energy, Ofgem, save money on bills, switch energy supplier

May 10, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

How To Read Your Energy Bill UK: 2026 Plain English Guide

Last updated: 10 May 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

Your energy bill arrives every month. You glance at the total, wince, and close it. Most of us have no clue whether the number is right, whether we're overpaying, or what any of the line items actually mean. So here's how to read energy bill statements properly, in about five minutes flat.

Honestly, we stared at our own bills for nearly three years before any of it clicked. The numbers looked made up. The terminology was designed by people who hate clarity. Once you understand the four or five lines that actually matter, you can immediately tell if you're overpaying, if your tariff is competitive, and whether switching would save you money. This is the guide we wish we'd had back then.

Energy prices, tariffs, and government support schemes change regularly. All figures in this post are verified as of May 2026. Always check your supplier's website or Ofgem for the latest information.

Published by Stiv in Energy, Money saving, Personal finance, Services

Tags: energy bills, energy price cap, how to read energy bill, octopus energy, Ofgem, save money on bills, smart meters, standing charge, switching energy

March 28, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Is Octopus Energy safe?

Last updated: 28 March 2026

Yes — Octopus Energy is regulated and licensed by Ofgem, meaning it must meet the same legal, financial and consumer protection standards as other major UK energy suppliers.

Quick answer

Octopus holds an Ofgem supply licence.
Default tariffs are covered by the Ofgem price cap.
Customers are protected under Supplier of Last Resort rules.
Complaints can escalate to the Energy Ombudsman.

If you're comparing switching options, you can see how joining works here: Octopus Energy switch process.

Published by Stiv in Discount, Energy, Saving, Services, UK Made

Tags: consumer protection, energy supplier safety, octopus energy, Ofgem, switching energy, UK energy regulation

March 25, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

April 2026 Energy Price Cap: What the £117 Drop Means for Your Bills

Last updated: 29 March 2026

The April 2026 energy price cap has been confirmed by Ofgem at £1,641 per year for a typical dual-fuel household, down £117 (6.6%) from the Q1 level of £1,758. That is a genuine saving. However, the relief looks set to be short-lived. Cornwall Insight now forecasts the July cap could rise to £1,973, an increase of £332 in a single quarter. So the next few weeks are a critical window for reviewing your tariff.

Published by Tristan in Carbon conscious, Energy, Money saving, Saving, Services

Tags: April 2026, energy bills, energy price cap, fixed tariff, octopus energy, Ofgem

March 9, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Is Octopus Energy Regulated by Ofgem? UK Licensing and Consumer Protection (2026)

Last updated: 29 March 2026

Yes. Octopus Energy is regulated by Ofgem, the UK's independent energy regulator. That means Octopus must follow the same consumer protection rules, pricing regulations and licensing requirements as every other domestic energy supplier in Great Britain. In practical terms, this covers everything from how you're billed to how quickly you can switch and what happens if things go wrong.

Quick answer

Octopus Energy holds both gas and electricity supply licences from Ofgem.
Default tariffs are subject to the Ofgem price cap.
Switching, billing and complaint handling rules all apply.
Customers can escalate unresolved complaints to the Energy Ombudsman.
If Octopus ever failed, the Supplier of Last Resort (SoLR) process would protect your supply and credit balance.

If you're reviewing suppliers and want to see how switching works in practice, start here: Octopus Energy switch process.

Published by Stiv in Discount, Energy, Saving, Services, UK Made

Tags: consumer protection, energy switching, octopus energy, Ofgem, price cap, UK energy regulation

March 1, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Can You Leave Octopus Energy Anytime? Exit Fees, Switching Rules, and What Happens Next

Last updated: 29 March 2026

Yes, in most cases you can leave Octopus anytime. However, the answer depends on which tariff you're on. If you're on a flexible (variable) tariff, there are typically no exit fees. If you're on a fixed tariff, things have changed recently. Since early March 2026, Octopus has reintroduced exit fees of up to £75 per fuel on new fixed deals. So the short answer is still yes, but the cost of leaving depends on your contract.

Quick summary

Flexible Octopus (variable): no lock-in, no exit fees.
Fixed tariffs (signed before March 2026): usually no exit fees, unless your specific deal included them.
Fixed tariffs (signed from March 2026): exit fees of up to £75 per fuel now apply on new contracts.
Cooling-off period: you get 14 days to cancel a new energy contract.
Switching speed: around 5 working days once confirmed.

If you're switching to Octopus rather than away, you can check the current sign-up credit here: Octopus Energy referral guide.

Published by Stiv in Reviews, Services

Tags: energy bills, exit fees, octopus energy, Ofgem, price cap, switching energy, UK utilities

February 28, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Ofgem Price Cap UK: How It Works, Q2 2026 Rates and What’s Next

Ofgem, energy price cap, UK energy bills, switching energy, Octopus Energy, British Gas, E.ON Next, cost of living

Published by Stiv in Finance, Saving, Services, UK Made

Tags: british gas, E.ON Next, energy price cap, octopus energy, Ofgem, switching energy, UK energy bills

November 26, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

UK Energy Price Cap January 2026: What Happened and What to Do Now

Last updated: 25 March 2026

The energy price cap in January 2026 rose by 0.2% to £1,758 per year for a typical dual-fuel household. At the time, that small rise was enough of a nudge to make switching to a fixed tariff worthwhile. Since then, the picture has moved on considerably. Ofgem has confirmed the April 2026 cap will fall to £1,641, which changes the calculation again — though the case for switching to Octopus Energy remains strong.

Update — March 2026: The April 2026 cap has been confirmed. We have published a full breakdown of what the new figure means and whether now is the right time to switch.

Read: April 2026 energy price cap — the drop, the risk, and the £50 switch offer

Get £50 credit when you switch to Octopus Read more

Published by Stiv in Discount, Saving, Services, UK Made

Tags: energy price cap, energy switching, fixed tariff, January 2026, octopus energy, Ofgem, UK households