Average energy bills in Caithness to rise by almost £100 – support is at hand

Caithness households facing an increase in energy bills have been urged to seek support after Ofgem raised the price cap.

The energy regulator today announced that average bills will rise by £94 from January 1, meaning a typical household will pay £1928 per year.

This comes just over a week after Ofgem launched a review into standing charges for gas and electricity, which have risen by up to 60 per cent in two years, with further increases expected in April.

Scotland’s national advice service, Advice Direct Scotland (ADS), runs the energyadvice.scot service with free, impartial, and practical advice on energy bills for anyone in Scotland.

energyadvice.scot is available at www.energyadvice.scot and on freephone 0808 196 8660, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

The charity warned of an “incredibly tough” winter ahead, with many Scots already struggling with household bills amid the cost-of-living crisis.

ADS also stressed the importance of people ensuring they are claiming all benefits they are entitled to. Its free online calculator, available at advice.scot, is tailored for Scotland and allows people to check their entitlement to both reserved and devolved benefits.

Hazel Knowles, energy lead for ADS, said: “Energy price rises at the coldest time of the year will alarm many people grappling with household bills.

“Costs are already hundreds of pounds higher than pre-pandemic levels, pushing people into debt and having to make difficult decisions about spending on even essential items. Given the challenging situation for many, it’s shaping up to be an incredibly tough winter.

“We urge people across Scotland not to struggle alone – our expert advisers can provide free advice on the support available and ensure that households are claiming all the benefits they are entitled to."

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.