Andrew Capstick

Thousands of disengaged energy customers saved an average of about £300/year in regulator Ofgem's first collective switch trial. The test involved around 50,000 Scottish Power customers who had been on a standard tariff for three years or more. In total, 22% – approximately 11,000 households – decided to switch, saving a combined £3.3 million.

Northern Ireland's largest energy supplier Power NI is to hike electricity prices by 13.8%, meaning the typical bill for those on its standard tariff will jump by £69/year. The price increase, effective from Monday 1 October, will see the average annual electricity bill for a typical user on the supplier's standard variable tariff rise from £497 to £565. Northern Ireland's Utility Regulator, which oversees Power NI's domestic charges, agreed to the new prices.

Green energy supplier Bulb has warned its 450,000 customers that it may be forced to increase prices for the third time this year, as a result of rising wholesale costs. In its most recent 'energy price watch' review – which it carries out every three months – Bulb said that wholesale energy prices have increased by around 5% since June 2018. As a result, it says "there is a chance we'll need to raise our prices in November".