How has the UK’s behaviour towards energy bills changed since the start of 2022?

Back in March 2022, we conducted a survey asking the British public about how rising energy costs were affecting their habits. At the time, the energy price cap had just risen by 54%, effective from April 1st, 2022. By mid-April, the average household was looking at an additional £693 annually on their energy bills.

If you're interested in reading more about the original survey results from earlier this year, you can find them here.

In essence, we found that nearly half (45%) of UK households were considering switching to renewable energy sources like solar or wind power if their energy bills went up by 50% due to the price cap increase. Fast forward six months, and experts anticipated a 30% hike in the energy price cap. Instead, the October increase ended up being an eye-watering 80%, pushing the average annual bill to £3,549 per household. It was then that the government intervened:

Under Ms. Truss's leadership, the UK introduced the 'Energy Price Guarantee', capping household energy bills at £2,500 for two years. However, this policy didn't last long. The government quickly reversed course, and the guarantee will now only apply until April 2023. Understandably, this has left many Britons confused about what their actual energy costs should be.

We decided to revisit UK residents to see exactly how much their energy bills have increased since March 2022. We also wanted to gauge public sentiment regarding the various initiatives designed to control energy expenses. Our findings revealed some interesting insights.

Since March 2022, by approximately what percentage has your electricity bill increased?

A significant 60.3% of British residents reported seeing their electricity bills increase by up to 50%. Another 16.9% experienced increases between 50-100%, while 4.1% of households witnessed their electricity bills more than double!

Unsurprisingly, the data remains consistent across different regions of the UK, impacting the entire population:

73% of Plymouth residents saw their bills rise by up to 50%
65% of Liverpool residents saw their bills rise by up to 50%
58% of Glasgow residents saw their bills rise by up to 50%

With all the changes to various schemes and guarantees, we asked the British public:

To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

I do not have a good understanding of how much bills should cost.
34.8% Agree
39% Disagree

I do not currently know what my utilities are set to increase by.
40% Agree
34.9% Disagree

I avoid checking my utility bills.
21.4% Agree
57.1% Disagree

I find energy bills confusing.
41% Agree
32% Disagree

I would change energy provider if I had a better understanding of how.
35.6% Agree
26% Disagree

Clearly, a substantial portion of UK residents are struggling to grasp the complexities of their energy bills. If you're feeling overwhelmed or want to learn more about available support during these challenging times, check out our blog titled 'How Much Are Energy Bills Going Up? Everything You Need To Know'.

Are your bills aligning with our findings? Installing solar panels in your home can help mitigate rising energy costs, along with offering other benefits. Reach out to us today to take steps toward sustainability with Project Solar.