- April hikes are set to affect most Brits, with household bills to rise by up to a collective £9.7[1] billion in April
- 9.4 million Brits can escape the looming price rises on their broadband and 33 million on their mobile bills[2]
- The energy price cap is going up for the third time in a row on 1 April to £1,849[3] per year for the average household on a standard tariff
- Households could save more than £1,000[4] by switching energy, mobile and broadband providers
- Uswitch’s experts reveal which customers can still beat the price rises, alongside a mobile and broadband price rise calculator
Brits are bracing for higher household bills from April, with just one week left before price hikes take effect. Energy, water, council tax, mobile and broadband bills are all set to rise by as much as a collective £9.7 billion per year[1], putting financial pressure on many households. However, by switching providers, households could save more than £1,000 per year[4].
On average, households can expect an annual cost increase of £430 each, with potentially even higher charges for those with multiple mobile contracts under one roof[5].
Uswitch, the comparison and switching website, is urging consumers to take action now and make smart switches to help offset price rises before the April deadline.
Price hikes breakdown: energy, water, council tax, mobile and broadband
The majority of broadband and mobile bills will increase by £21.99 for broadband and £15.90 for mobile but some will increase up to £42 and £48 a year respectively[6], costing customers up to £338 million[7] and £433 million[8] nationwide.
Nine million broadband and 33 million mobile customers are currently out of contract[2], meaning they are free to switch to a new contract without paying exit fees, and can avoid April price hikes if they change providers within the next seven days.
The energy price cap affects 22 million households and will rise by 6.4% on 1 April, reaching £1,849 per year for the average household, equating to an additional £2.4 billion nationwide[3].
The average household on a standard tariff, where prices are effectively set by the price cap, could save around £252[10] per year versus the April cap by switching to a fixed deal. A fixed energy deal can protect households from price rises for twelve months or longer.
Water bills will rise by up to 47% in some areas, and council tax will increase by up to 4.99%, adding £229 a year for the average household.[15] While consumers can’t necessarily avoid these price rises, they can contact their water provider or council if they think they are paying too much.
Rising household costs: a tough reality for many Brits
As a result of rising bills, a significant number of households already have or are planning to adjust their spending habits.
Over two-thirds (67%) have made lifestyle changes to save money in the past year, with the younger generation disproportionately affected (75% of 18-34-year-olds compared with 58% of those aged 55+)[11].
The most common lifestyle changes include cutting back on outgoings such as family days out (18%), stopping saving contributions (17%), and selling items to make some extra cash (16%)[11].
Bill hikes are also having an emotional impact, with many saying they feel frustrated that their money does not go as far anymore (33%), anxious about their finances (30%), and stressed (24%), compounding the burden on family budgets. Almost one in ten have even confessed to having more arguments as a result of financial strain (8%).[12]
UK adults expect to spend less this year on big purchases than last year. While Brits spent £755 on cars last year[13], this is expected to go down to £441[14] this year, and similarly, spending on tech is expected to decrease from £250[13] last year to £164[14].
Ernest Doku, spokesperson at Uswitch.com, comments: “With millions of households already feeling the financial strain, the upcoming bill hikes in April will only make things harder.
“While not all price hikes can be avoided, there are still opportunities to save by switching providers. By reviewing your energy, broadband, and mobile deals, you can lock in better rates and avoid paying more. It’s never been easier to make the switch and secure savings for the year ahead – and with just one week to go until the price rises hit, the time to act is now.”
Tips to beat broadband price hikes
- Prepare for price hikes: Check out Uswitch’s new price rise calculator to see how much your broadband or mobile bill could be going up by
- Switch to save: Check your contract status to see if you can avoid price hikes by switching penalty-free. Switching to a new broadband deal after your initial contract has ended could save you £181 a year[4]. Vodafone, Virgin Media, and Community Fibre are some of the providers freezing prices until 2026 for those who switch before the April increases
- Bigger isn’t always better: Some regional full fibre providers commit to fixed prices for the entire duration of your contract, for example, Trooli, YouFibre and Hyperoptic
Tips for mobile customers
- Switch to SIM only: Switching from an ending 24-month handset contract to a SIM only contract could save you £351 per year[4]. Providers like Lebara and SMARTY offer low-cost plans without mid-contract price increases
- Text 85075: Text INFO to 85075 to check your contract status and if there are exit fees for your current contract
- Reduce data plan: If you have leftover data each month, consider lowering your data plan to save money
Tips to avoid changing energy prices
- Check what type of energy deal you are on: If you haven’t switched energy deals in a year or more you are likely to be on a standard tariff, meaning you are probably paying more than you need to
- Pick a fixed deal: Choosing a fixed deal of 12 months or longer could protect against any further price changes and give you price certainty for the duration of the deal
- Set a reminder to switch again: You can leave within the last 49 days of a fixed energy deal without paying any exit fees – so if there’s a better offer available, it’s a good time to switch
For more information on the price rises calculator, visit: Uswitch.com
ENDS
Appendix
Table 1: Average bills per household, price increase details and who can escape the price hikes:
| Bill | Price increase details | Cost per household (yearly) | Cost nationwide (yearly) | Can you escape the April bill price hikes? |
| Energy bills | Typical household energy bills will jump by £111 annually, hitting £1,849 from April.[4] | £111 per year[3] | £2.4 billion[17] | Yes, most households on standard tariffs can switch |
| Water bills | Average £10 increase, with Southern Water seeing a staggering 47% rise, Anglian Water hikes by 19%, and Scotland facing a near 10% increase | £120[15] | £3.4 billion[18] | No - but if you’re on a metered bill then reducing your usage could bring it down |
| Council tax | Council tax in England could rise by up to 4.99%, with some areas in Wales facing hikes as high as 15%. In Scotland, rates could climb by 10%[14] | £109[15] | £3 billion[19] | No - but if you think you’re in the wrong band then you can have this reviewed (beware it could go up or down) |
| Broadband | Broadband and TV fees are on the rise. The exact amount is determined by whether your contract is an older, inflation-linked contract or a newer ‘pounds and pence’ plan where mid-contract price rises are declared at the start of the contract | £21.99 per year on inflation-linked contracts and up to £42 a year for those on newer ‘pounds and pence’ plans [6] | £338.4 million on inflation-linked contracts and £83.9 million on newer ‘pounds and pence’ plans [7] | Yes, most households can switch (penalty-free if out of contract)Vodafone, Virgin Media, and Community Fibre are some of the providers freezing prices until 2026 for those who switch before the April increases.Smaller regional providers such as Trooli, YouFibre and Hyperoptic don’t increase prices mid-contract. |
| Mobiles | Likewise, mobile prices are on the rise. The exact amount is determined by whether your contract is an older, inflation-linked contract or a newer ‘pounds and pence’ plan where mid-contract price rises are declared at the start of the contract | An average of £15.90 a year to the bills of mobile customers on inflation-linked contracts and up to £48 for those on newer ‘pounds and pence’ price rise contracts [6] | £433.4 million on inflation-linked contracts and £136.8 million on newer ‘pounds and pence’ plans [8] | Yes, most households can switch (penalty-free if out of contract)Lebara, SMARTY, Asda, VOXI, Honest Mobile, giffgaff, spusu are providers with no price increases available on Uswitch |
Notes to editors
1) £338,402,732 [broadband inflation-based figure] + £433,446,892 [mobile inflation-based figure] + £2,442,000,000 [energy] + £3,408,000,000 [water] + £3,095,600,000 [council tax] = £ 9,717,449,624
2) According to Pricing trends for communications services in the UK 2024, 34% of broadband and 37% of mobile customers are currently out of contract. Telecommunications Market Data Update Q3 2024 - Ofcom tell us there were 29.1 million fixed broadband lines at the end of Q3 2024, and the number of active mobile subscriptions (excluding M2M) was 89.5 million at the end of Q3 2024. This means 9.4 million are out of contract on their broadband and 33 million on their mobiles.
3) According to Ofgem, for an average household paying by Direct Debit for dual fuel price rises equate to £1,849 per year. This is 9.4% (£159) higher than this time last year (£1,690) but £531 (22%) lower than at the height of the energy crisis at the start of 2023, when the Energy Price Guarantee was in place. The same report also confirms the overall number of domestic customers on Standard Variable Tariffs (SVT) is ‘around 22 million’. £111 per year energy cost according to BBC X 22,000,000 households = 2,442,000,000
4) Total average savings £1,135 (assuming two mobile phone switches per household), using the following calculations:
Energy: Customers who switched energy on Uswitch.com between 1 March and 14 March saved on average £252 or more.
Broadband: Switching to a new broadband deal after your initial contract has ended could save you £181 (£180.83) a year. Based on the average 12-month out of contract cost calculated in January 2025 between Sky Superfast Broadband, Sky Full Fibre, Virgin Media M125 Ultrafast Broadband, Vodafone Fibre 2 and Vodafone Full Fibre 500 (£546.96), compared to the average yearly cost of the most popular five new deals (Sky Superfast at £357.00 per year, Sky Ultrafast Plus Broadband at £429.00, Virgin Media Ultrafast at £324.00, Vodafone Full Fibre 500 at £393.00 and Vodafone Fibre 2 at £333.00). Calculations include mid-contract price rises. Correct as of 1 January 2025.
Mobile: Switching from an ending 24-month handset contract to a SIM only contract (and keeping your existing handset) could save you £351 (£350.95) per year, or £29.25 per month. This calculation is based on the price of the top selling 24-month handset package in January 2023 (Apple iPhone 14 with 100GB data) against the cheapest equivalent SIM only deal on the Uswitch site as of January 2025 (TalkMobile 100GB data £9.95 per month on average). Correct as of 30 January 2025.
5) £111 per year energy bill cost + £120 water bill cost + £109 council tax cost + £42 per year broadband cost for those on ‘pounds and pence plans’ + £48 per year mobile cost for those on ‘pounds and pence plans’ = £430
6) Total individual cost per month broadband = CPI rate + 3.69% of the average broadband cost of £29.60 x 12. Total individual cost per month mobiles = CPI rate + 3.9% of the average mobile cost of £20.70 x 12. The maximum amount people will pay on broadband on pounds and pence is based on Virgin Media’s increase of £3.50 per month. £3.50 x 12 = £42. The maximum amount people will pay on mobile on pounds and pence is based on BT / EE’s £4 per month increase for handsets. £4 x 12 = £48.
7) Inflation: 54% of people are on an inflation based contract. 54% of UK adult population (54,196,443) is 29,238,981 – divided by 1.9 to get the household figure is 15,388,937. Inflation-linked contracts add £21.99 per year. 21.99 X 15,388,937 = £338,402,732 (Opinium surveyed two samples of 2,000 UK adults from 10th-14th January 2025, and 18th – 21st February 2025)
Pounds and pence: 7% of people are on a pounds and pence broadband contract. 7% of UK adult population (54,196,443) is 3,798,751 – divided by 1.9 to get the household figure is 1,996,711. Pounds and pence contracts add £42 per year. 42 X 1,996,711 = £83,861,864
8) Inflation: 50% of people are on an inflation based contract.50% of UK adult population (54,196,443) is 27,260,811. Inflation-linked contracts add £15.90 per year. 15.90 X 7,260,811= £433,446,892 (Opinium surveyed two samples of 2,000 UK adults from 10th-14th January 2025, and 18th – 21st February 2025)
Pounds and pence: 5% of people are on a pounds and pence mobile contract. 5% of UK adult population (54,196,443) is 2,845,313. Pounds and pence contracts add £48 per year. 48 X 2,845,313 = £136,783,104
9) Switching to a new broadband deal after your initial contract has ended could save you £181 (£180.83) a year. This calculation is based on the average 12-month out of contract cost calculated in January 2025 between Sky Superfast Broadband, Sky Full Fibre, Virgin Media M125 Ultrafast Broadband, Vodafone Fibre 2 and Vodafone Full Fibre 500 , (£546.96), compared to the average yearly cost of the most popular five new deals (Sky Superfast at £357.00 per year, Sky Ultrafast Plus Broadband at £429.00, Virgin Media Ultrafast at £324.00, Vodafone Full Fibre 500 at £393.00 and Vodafone Fibre 2 at £333.00). Calculations include mid-contract price rises. Correct as of 1st January 2025. Switching from an ending 24-month handset contract to a SIM only contract (and keeping your existing handset) could save you £351 (£350.95) per year, or £29.25 per month. This calculation is based on the price of the top selling 24 month handset package in January 2023 (Apple iPhone 14 with 100GB data) against the cheapest equivalent SIM only deal on the Uswitch site as of January 2025 (TalkMobile 100GB data £9.95 per month on average ). Correct as of 30th January 2025.
10) Energy saving based on the average household on a standard tariff switching to the cheapest fixed deal on the market. April energy price cap (1 April - 30 June 2025) is £1,849 (Source: Ofgem). Cheapest fixed tariff on the market is £1,597 average annual bill. £1,849 - £1,597 = £252 saving available. Cheapest energy-only dual-fuel fixed tariff on the market: Outfox the Market, Outfox the Price Cap (Apr 25) 12M Fix'd Dual v1.0, average annual bill £1,597, fixed for 12 months, exit fees £25 per fuel. Available direct via Outfox the Market. Prices correct as of 10:00am on Tuesday 25 March 2025.
11) Respondents were asked ‘Which of the following, if any, have you done due to rising bill prices in the past year?’ 33% responded ‘N/A – I have not made any changes due to rising bill prices’, meaning 67% have made changes based on rising bill prices. Cut backs included family days out (18%), stopping saving contributions (17%), and selling items to make some extra cash (16%). 75% of 18-25 year olds confirmed they had made a change compared with 58% of those aged 55+. (Opinium surveyed a sample of 2,000 UK adults from the 11th - 14th March 2025)
12) Respondents were asked ‘Which of the following emotional impacts, if any, have you experienced due to rising bill prices?’. 33% responded ‘frustration that my money does not go as far anymore’, 30% ‘anxious about my finances’ (30%), and 24% ‘stressed about my finances’. 8% responded ‘More fights with other members of my household over money’. (Opinium surveyed a sample of 2,000 UK adults from the 11th - 14th March 2025)
13) Respondents were asked ‘How much as an individual did you spend last year on the following?’. The average car spend was £755.40, and tech was £250.40. (Opinium surveyed a sample of 2,000 UK adults from the 11th - 14th March 2025)
14) Respondents were asked ‘How much as an individual are you planning to spend on each of the following this year?’ The average car spend was £441.30, and tech was £164.10. (Opinium surveyed a sample of 2,000 UK adults from the 11th - 14th March 2025)
15) Current water rises according to BBC. Average £10 a month increase x 12 = £120. The average Band D council tax in England will see an increase of £109 according to Gov.UK. £109 council tax + £120 water bill = £229
16) £111 per year energy bill cost + £120 water bill cost + £109 council tax cost + £42 per year broadband cost for those on ‘pounds and pence plans’ + £48 per year mobile cost for those on ‘pounds and pence plans’ = £430
17) £111 per year energy cost X 22,000,000 households = 2,442,000,000
According to Ofgem, for an average household paying by Direct Debit for dual fuel price rises equate to £1,849 per year. The same report also confirms the overall number of domestic customers on Standard Variable Tariffs (SVT) is ‘around 22 million’.
18) According to ONS, there were 28.4 million households in 2023. £120 water bill cost X 28,400,000 = . 3,408,000,000
19) According to ONS, there were 28.4 million households in 2023. £109 council bill cost X 28,400,000 = 3,095,600,000
For more information
Harriet Atkinson | Telecoms PR Manager
harriet.atkinson@rvu.co.uk
Twitter: @UswitchPR
About Uswitch
Uswitch is one of the UK’s top comparison websites for home services switching, including energy, broadband and mobiles.
More people go to Uswitch to find their energy, broadband and mobile deals than any other site, and we have saved consumers over £2.7 billion off their bills since we launched in September 2000.
Free mobile app Utrack also helps households manage their home energy usage and make potential savings.
Uswitch is part of RVU, a group of online brands with a mission to empower consumers to make more confident home services, insurance and financial decisions.