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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
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Rachel Pugh

Martin Lewis confirms 'magic number' every energy bill customer should study

Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis has confirmed that consumers need to look out for a 'magic number' when they are studying their energy bills.

The budgeting expert, who is a regular on ITV This Morning, shared a video, where he confirmed 'timing is crucial' during the energy crisis in the UK.

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The financial journalist said: "The current price cap for someone who is dual-fuel, which is typical use, is £1,971 a year. That went up massively on the 1 of April and that's where it sits right now. That will last until the beginning of October."

The October price cap is based on wholesale rates that energy firms pay between the start of February and the end of July, MEN reports.

Brits are currently halfway through that period so Martin has predicted what will happen this year.

Using Cornwall Insight for his research the broadcaster thinks there will be another rise of 32 per cent. He said this will take the price cap of someone with typical use to around £2,600.

"As we're halfway through the period, there's very little chance that we're going to see prices drop in October," the money guru continued. "If you can find a fix that is no more than 17 per cent higher than the rate you're currently paying on the price cap, then that's worth doing.

"Having said that, I think a fix does have the merit of price certainty, it's effectively a cap in its own right but the cap lasts longer."

Cornwall Insight suggests we'll see a 12 per cent drop from the October price cap in April next year. Martin, who founded MoneySavingExpert.com, said: "I'd suggest as a rough rule of thumb although the maths shows 17 per cent, if you can find a fix at no more than 25% higher than the current price cap rate and you value price certainty it is probably worth fixing at that rate.

"Let's look at what is out there at the moment, the fixes which are worth it are probably short-term fixes with your current supplier that is cheaper than open market switches.

"The problem is they aren't published at an open market rate. I can't see them. The cheapest I can find today is 35 per cent - so it's probably not worth it. That's why I think 25 per cent is the magic number."

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