Now the Energy Secretary has swung behind Martin Lewis’ push to let them benefit from the April drop too — a move that could mean roughly “£150 off bills” for many if suppliers play ball.
The kettle clicked off in a quiet kitchen while a phone screen lit up with another direct debit reminder. You know the scene: winter barely loosened its grip, and the energy app showing numbers that make you wince. The talk on breakfast radio was different, though — the Energy Secretary publicly backing Martin Lewis’ call for fixed-tariff customers to share in April’s cut, not just those on standard variable. I watched a mum in Leeds nudge her thermostat down half a degree, doing the tiny sums in her head, then pause at the bit about a one-off credit worth around £150. She didn’t cheer. She breathed. I could almost hear the relief stretch down the street, from kitchen to kitchen. I could feel the collective exhale across the country. Then came the question hanging in the steam above the mug: will it really land in time?
What Westminster’s backing could mean for your bill
When a Cabinet minister says they support a fix for fixed deals, it shifts the centre of gravity — not just politics, but practicalities. **The Energy Secretary has backed Martin Lewis’s call in principle, signalling to Ofgem and suppliers that a mechanism to spread April’s drop across fixed tariffs is both fair and expected.** Think of it as political cover for a technical tweak: a one-off credit or pro‑rata discount that recognises many people fixed in panic months and missed out on later falls.
Picture a typical two‑bed home that fixed last summer at around 30p/kWh for electricity and 7.5p/kWh for gas, riding out winter on a price that felt safe then, steep now. If April’s level comes in lower — say a couple of pence per kWh off power and a shade off gas versus that fix — the annualised gap can nudge £150 for average users. Not a windfall, not scraps either; it’s the difference between swallowing a council tax rise and keeping the weekly shop unchanged. We’ve all had that moment when a bill lands and your stomach actually tightens.
How would it work in the weeds? Ofgem could set guidance that suppliers apply a “parity credit” so fixed customers benefit in line with the cap’s April reduction, while preserving hedging commitments on the back‑end. **Roughly £150 could be knocked off an average household’s bills from April if applied fairly, most likely as a bill credit or a series of monthly reductions through the quarter.** It needs rules that prevent cherry‑picking, protect prepay, and avoid perverse incentives — a nudge for fairness, not a free‑for‑all.
What to do now to be ready
Start with a clean baseline. Take and submit meter readings on the last day of March and again in early April, so any new rates or credits aren’t muddied by estimated use. Check the small print of your fix: end date, unit rates, exit fees, and whether your supplier has publicly committed to pass through any April benefit. If it becomes policy, get your ducks in a row — account email up to date, direct debit not wildly over‑ or under‑shooting, and your app notifications switched on.
Don’t jump ship on impulse. If you’re inside a well‑priced fix that later gets a fairness credit, you could end up in a better spot than variable without a messy switch. Exit fees can still bite; some firms waive them when they adjust tariffs, others don’t. Keep screenshots of your current rates in case of disputes and note your MPAN/MPRN for quicker chats with customer service. Let’s be honest: nobody really does this every day. But one tidy hour now can save weeks of hassle later.
**Fixed‑tariff customers could finally see relief without exit fees or faff, if suppliers mirror the April fall with a transparent credit.**
“This move won’t fix the market, but it could fix a niggling injustice in a single stroke.”
Here’s a quick checklist to keep handy before April lands:
- Log fresh meter readings on 31 March and again the first week of April.
- Download or screenshot your current unit rates and standing charges.
- Ask your supplier — in writing — if and how they’ll apply an April fairness credit.
- Compare your fix to projected April rates; don’t ignore exit fees.
- If you’re on prepay, check for automatic vouchers or smart top‑up credits.
The bigger picture: fairness, trust and the next winter
Energy bills aren’t just maths; they’re mood. A fairness credit for fixed customers would show the system can share good news as readily as bad, and that matters for trust after a long stretch of “take it or leave it” tariffs. The detail will be tricky — hedges, cashflow, and edge cases often are — yet a principle that says the April easing reaches everyone is the sort of north star people can believe in. Families remember who helped when things were tight and who made them fight for pennies.
The truth is the price cap is a blunt instrument, and fixes are a hedge against risk, not a guarantee you’ll always win. This proposal respects that deal while smoothing an obvious bump in the road left by the crisis years, when many fixed in fear and got stuck above the line as the tide turned. It won’t lower wholesale prices or insulate a single loft. It could, though, turn a policy headline into less anxiety at the kitchen table.
| Key Point | Detail | Interest for the reader |
|---|---|---|
| Government backing | Energy Secretary supports Martin Lewis’ call to extend April’s drop to fixed tariffs | Signals real momentum, not just a campaign soundbite |
| Potential saving | Indicative £150 off for average users via a one‑off credit or pro‑rata discount | What it could mean for your own monthly budget |
| What to do | Submit readings, document current rates, query your supplier’s plan | Practical steps to lock in any benefit quickly |
FAQ :
- Who would qualify for the “£150 off bills” idea?Households on fixed tariffs when April’s level takes effect, if suppliers implement a fairness credit in line with government and Ofgem guidance.
- Is £150 guaranteed?No. It’s an indicative figure for an average‑use home; the real amount would vary by tariff gap, usage, and how suppliers apply the credit.
- Do I need to switch to get it?Likely not. The proposal is to apply relief to existing fixes. Switching purely to chase this could trigger exit fees or lose other benefits.
- How would prepayment customers be treated?They should receive equivalent relief, potentially via smart meter credits or vouchers. Check your supplier’s specific process.
- When would any credit show up?If adopted, either as a one‑off credit in April/May or smoothed across bills in the spring quarter. Keep meter readings current to avoid estimates diluting it.
Huge thanks to ML and the Energy Sec—this would bring real relief. But is there a firm Ofgem timeline and will suppliers be compelled or is it just “pretty please” guidance? £150 is defintely not nothing.