Energy bills this winter: the October price cap and help for carers
The energy price cap rose 4% on 1 October 2026, mostly because of gas. What it means for households where someone is cared for at home, and the help that is available.
When someone is looked after at home, the heating is often on for longer and equipment may need charging every day. So the new energy price cap matters.
What has changed
From 1 October to 31 December 2026 the price cap for a typical household paying by Direct Debit for gas and electricity is £1,723 a year, up 4% or £60 from £1,663, Ofgem announced on 26 August 2026 (Ofgem, 26 August 2026). The cap limits unit rates and standing charges, not your total bill, so a home that uses more energy pays more.
Most of the rise comes from gas, with gas bills up 8%. Electricity bills stay broadly stable because the government has removed VAT from domestic electricity, and Ofgem says the cap would otherwise have been around £45 higher (Ofgem, 26 August 2026). There is no VAT on electricity from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027 (Ofgem, price cap rates).
Ofgem's Neil Kenward said "Savings are available by choosing a fixed tariff", and Ofgem says some fixed deals are £100 or more below the October cap (Ofgem, 26 August 2026).
What this means for you
- Join the Priority Services Register. It is free, and suppliers offer extra help to people of State Pension age, disabled people, people with a long-term health condition and those who rely on powered equipment at home, for example advance notice of power cuts (Ofgem). Register again if you switch supplier.
- Look out for the Warm Home Discount. It is a one-off £150 off the electricity bill in England and Wales. You may be eligible if, on 23 August 2026, you or your partner got Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, income-related ESA or Pension Credit and your name was on the bill. It is usually applied automatically (GOV.UK).
- Compare a fixed tariff if you are on a standard variable tariff, and ask your supplier whether a different way of paying would cost less.
- Talk to your supplier early if you are struggling. Ofgem expects suppliers to agree affordable repayment plans.
- Make sure the person you look after claims what they are entitled to. Attendance Allowance, for example, can mean extra Pension Credit, which can in turn qualify for the Warm Home Discount.
If you're worried about their health, contact their GP or NHS 111. In an emergency call 999.
Coming Home: Family Care is a UK iPhone app we're building to help families keep the bills, letters and help they might be entitled to in one place. Join the waitlist.
Original source: Energy price cap will rise by 4% from October 2026, Ofgem, 26 August 2026