THE average household in Bromsgrove could spend more than £4,000 per year on their energy bill when the new price cap comes into effect in October.

Ofgem, the UK's energy regulator, announced last month that it will increase the energy price cap from October 1.

It means the maximum price a supplier can charge for electricity will rise on average from 28p per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to 52p per kWh, while gas will increase from 7p to 15p per kWh.

It means the average household's energy costs on a variable tariff in the UK will increase by 80 per cent – from £1,971 to £3,549 per year.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy figures show the average household in Bromsgrove used around 3,338.85 kWh of electricity and 14,094.13 kWh of gas in 2020.

At current prices, it means the average household on a variable tariff in the area would be paying around £2,180 per year to heat and fuel their home.

But when the price cap increases in October, this will soar to approximately £4,120.

A government spokesperson said direct financial aid, targeted at the most vulnerable, will "continue to reach people's pockets in the weeks and months ahead", and that preparations have been made so that this support can be implemented as quickly as possible.