October 2026 energy price cap: what it means before your fixed tariff ends

Ofgem announced the change on 26 August 2026. For 1 October to 31 December 2026, the cap for typical gas and electricity usage paid by Direct Debit in England, Scotland and Wales is equivalent to £1,723 a year. That is £60 higher than the equivalent July–September figure of £1,663.

These are annualised illustrations for typical usage. They are not the amount every household will pay, a guaranteed £60 increase in your bill, or a prediction of the cost over the next twelve months.

The cap limits energy unit rates and daily standing charges on default tariffs. It does not cap your total bill. What you pay depends on how much energy you use; rates also vary by region and payment method.

Ofgem says households on fixed tariffs are not affected by this October cap rise while their fix runs. A price-cap headline alone is therefore not a reason to assume your existing tariff has become more expensive or that you should leave it early.

A fixed tariff also does not make your total bill fixed: as MoneyHelper explains, the bill still depends on your energy use.

The October change and your tariff end date are two different dates. The first describes the current cap period. The second is the event Onremind helps you protect.

MoneyHelper says that when a fixed energy plan ends, the supplier puts the customer on its standard variable tariff.

Before that date, review what your supplier says will apply and what you want to do next. Do not assume the follow-on tariff will always cost more: check the actual terms and rates relevant to your household.

Add your fixed tariff end date to Onremind. It tracks the date and warns you beforehand, giving you time to review what happens next and make your own decision.

Afterwards, record what you decided and add the next qualifying date where there is another fixed-tariff cycle to protect.