Martin Lewis, the renowned consumer advocate and MoneySavingExpert founder, has issued a message to Octopus Energy customers and other energy users in light of the new Ofgem price cap hike. The cap rise has seen bills soar to an alarming £1,717 on average from October 1.
The respected voice behind the BBC Sounds podcast sprung into action on X. Martin advised his social media followers: “If you are genuinely struggling, it’s always worth speaking to the energy firm. And if you are vulnerable, also ask to be put on the Priority Services Register.”
The advice followed his resharing of a tweet from a relieved customer who penned on Tuesday, October 1: “Martin, I contacted Octopus and said I was struggling on a low income. They asked me to complete a budget, which I did, and they have cancelled my standing charge for 3 months. Always worth asking if you’re struggling. Thumbs up to octopus.”
Meanwhile, one user highlighted dissatisfying encounters with another supplier, noting: “Not with British Gas as if you can’t email and we wrote to British Gas about five weeks ago, Martin, about estimates they never have replied.”
Another, however, spoke of their successful negotiation for a fixed deal: “Fixed last night Martin at 3am on my break on nightshift BG 1 year fix,” reports Birmingham Live.
Customer praise for Octopus Energy’s dealings came from many others, too. A satisfied customer tweeted: “@OctopusEnergy well done to you guys. One of many reasons I’m still a customer of yours.”
Another posed the question: “When are the tariffs on cheapenergyclub updated? When comparing it still uses the pre 1/10 tariffs for my current contract, resulting in everything more expensive than what I’m on at the moment..”
In the middle of these discussions, however, one person asked: “If energy companies have fixed rates without putting up prices by 10% then they could have simply not put prices up on standard tariffs?”
Elsewhere, a prepared consumer took matters into their own hands stating, “Fixed today with E-on who was my price cap supplier – did it before the news from the Middle East which I can only imagine may make prices rise.”
The average household energy bill will go up by £149 a year as a result of Ofgem’s price cap rise.
The regulator has raised the cap from £1,568 for a typical dual fuel household in England, Scotland and Wales to £1,717. That adds up to about £12 a month more on average.
