npower is third Big Six energy supplier in three days to raise prices to new cap level

• Gas and electricity bills will rise by 10% for 1 million npower customers on its standard variable tariff from 1 April

• npower’s standard plan will cost £1,254 on average – adding £118 million to bills across the country

• Prepayment meter customers will also face a £106 (9%) price rise

• npower announcement takes confirmed bill increases to £490 million with more suppliers expected to hike tariffs soon

• Uswitch urges consumers to beat the cap trap by switching

Rik Smith, energy expert at Uswitch.com, said: “It’s third time unlucky for energy customers as another of the Big Six suppliers has announced it will be pricing up to the new cap level.

“These announcements are coming like clockwork, shattering the myth that the cap is guaranteeing a good deal for customers on standard tariffs.

“It’s vital that households don’t fall for the price cap con. Since Ofgem announced last week that the level of the cap was going up, over four million customers have already been handed a £490 million confirmed bill increase, kicking in on 1 April. Unfortunately this number is only going to get bigger.

“But consumers can escape the cap trap by acting now. npower’s standard tariff will be £294 more expensive than the cheapest deal on the market today. The savings are real, but the idea that you’re better off under the cap rather than switching is a complete fallacy.”

Table 1: Big Six price increases since cap level increase announced