East Midlands households could be hit hardest in latest energy price rises

Households in the East Midlands could face a rise of more than £130 Credit: Malte Christians/DPA/Press Association Images

Hundreds of thousands of families will be hit by rocketing energy bills as fixed rate deals come to an end in the next couple of weeks - and figures released today suggest homeowners in the East Midlands will be among the hardest hit.

Members of the public are being encouraged to shop around different energy suppliers over the summer to see if they can get a better deal for the coming months.

But many people say finding a cheaper deal is too confusing and time-consuming - meaning they could end up paying more than they should.

Video report by Charlotte Cross:

The energy companies with fuel tariffs set to expire are:

  • British Gas

  • EDF Energy

  • Npower

  • Sainsbury’s Energy

  • Flow Energy

When a fuel tariff 'expires' it means that customers who were on a fixed deal are automatically rolled onto their supplier's standard rates, which is a requirement from energy watchdog Ofgem.

Although this can mean that customers are moved on to a better deal, in some cases the change means they see significant rises in how much they have to pay for energy.

EDF Energy is one of the companies which has tariffs due to expire Credit: Lewis Stickley/PA Archive/PA Images

Eight fixed dual fuel tariffs are due to expire on Monday, four of which will mean that affected customers’ average annual energy bills rise by £77.13 (7.1 per cent).

EDF Energy customers in the East Midlands are set to be hit the hardest, with a £136.59 (13.62 per cent) rise.

Those customers signed up to the EDF Energy Blue +Price Promise August 2015 tariff currently pay an average annual cost of £1,103.13. But when they move to the EDF Energy standard tariff, that will go up to £1,139.72 per year.

However, some customers may see a reduction in their energy bills when their fixed tariff comes to an end. This is because their supplier’s standard tariff is cheaper than the fixed deal they are currently on.

Those customers on the British Gas Fix & Control Aug 2015 and Fix & Reward August 2015 tariffs, or the Sainsbury’s Energy Fix & Reward August 2015, will see their bills drop by £58.06 (4.78%) when their tariff comes to an end.