The energy price cap is set to fall to £1,923 from October for the last quarter of the year, Ofgem has just confirmed.
In a change that’s set to bring the average annual household energy bill to below £2,000 for the first time since April 2022, the energy regulator has just announced this morning that the energy price cap will once make a further reduction from October.
From 1 October – 31 December, the cap will be set at an annual level of £1,923 for a dual-fuel household, according to Ofgem.
The change could save households an average of £151 on the previous quarter.
Ofgem says the energy price drop – which is at the lowest level since October 2021 – “reflects further falls in wholesale energy prices” as the market “stabilises”, and as suppliers return to a “healthier financial position” after four years of loss-making following the COVID pandemic and amid the cost of living crisis.
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These energy price cap savings continue on the downward trend since prices peaked at £4,279, however, it remains well above the average before the energy crisis took hold in 2021.
The energy regulator has conceded that market unfortunately “remains volatile”.
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Ofgem lowers energy price cap to £1,923 from October / Credit: Pxhere
Alongside changes to the energy price cap, Ofgem has also announced measures to reduce costs for prepayment meter customers this morning – which is says ensures “extra support” for those struggling and most at-risk of being “disconnected” from the network.
Ofgem’s announcement of the lowering of the energy price cap comes within the same week that a shocking new survey by Which? found that nearly nine in 10 (85%) British households admitted to trying to cut back on their energy usage due to rising bills putting significant financial, physical, and emotional strains on consumers.
The same survey also revealed that 13 million Brits didn’t put their heating on when it got cold last winter, claiming they were “too scared” to do so.
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Energy costs are dropping slightly for most households from 1 October. But rates will be incredibly high still, and we’re not getting the extra support we did last winter.
Which? also found that consumers in at-risk groups – including those in lower-income households, and those aged 45-64 years old – were more likely than others to not turn the heating on when it’s cold, which the consumer group said “clearly demonstrates” just how many people have had to make “severe cutbacks” to afford their energy bills.
Experts also claimed people may be “putting their own health at risk” in the process of trying to afford their energy bills.
Ryanair is being investigated over charging parents to sit with their children
Emily Sergeant
Ryanair is being investigated by the Government’s leading regulator over charging parents to sit with their children.
Currently, Ryanair’s terms and conditions require at least one parent to sit with their children aged two-11 when they fly, but this is done through what the airline calls a ‘mandatory family seat’, meaning the parent must pay in order for them to secure a seat next to their child.
This fee applies to both outbound and return flights, and typically costs around £8 each way – but for all other passengers, reserving a seat is optional.
And it’s this that the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an investigation.
We’re investigating Ryanair over its practice of charging parents to sit with their children – including those with disabilities – and whether this could be unfair under consumer protection law.
— Competition & Markets Authority (@CMAgovUK) June 11, 2026
CMA evidence suggests this approach to seating is used across the majority of Ryanair’s UK routes, and the watchdog understands that Ryanair is the only major airline flying out of the UK to impose this charge.
Other airlines offer to seat children with a parent or guardian without the need for a paid-for adult seat reservation, or they allocate seats together automatically during booking for free.
The CMA says it’s investigating, in particular, whether Ryanair’s approach to seat reservations may mean parents are being charged for the airline to meet its child safety and disability‑related obligations as set out under aviation rules.
The watchdog wants to determine whether or not this practice is in line with consumer law, and whether the airline’s contract terms are ‘unfair’ if they put customers at an unfair disadvantage.
Ryanair is being investigated over charging parents to sit with their children / Credit: Gerrie van der Walt (via Unsplash)
Under consumer law, businesses must show a total price that includes all unavoidable charges, rather than adding extra charges separately or later in the process, as this ensures consumers can effectively compare prices and understand the true cost of what they are buying.
“Lots of families save up to afford a summer holiday and we know that extra charges can quickly bump up the price,” commented Hayley Fletcher, who is the Senior Director of Consumer Protection at the CMA.
“Our investigation will consider Ryanair’s approach to family seat reservations and how the cost is presented to consumers to determine whether they comply with consumer law.
“For the past year, we’ve told businesses to ensure their customers are shown the total price upfront – those who don’t face the very real possibility of action from the CMA.”
At present, the CMA is currently at the beginning of its investigation, and has reached no conclusions about whether Ryanair has broken the law.
Featured Image – CCNull
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Girl, 14, detained under Mental Health Act after stabbing at Manchester high school
Emily Sergeant
A 14-year-old girl has been detained under the Mental Health Act following a stabbing at a high school in Manchester earlier this week.
In case you need bringing up to speed, officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) were called to reports of a stabbing at a school on Plant Hill Road in Blackley – confirmed to be Co-op Academy Manchester – on Tuesday morning (9 June 2026), and when they arrived on the scene, they discovered that two students and a teacher had been injured.
A 14-year-old girl was arrested on suspicion of section 18 assault, before being taken into custody for questioning.
But it has now been confirmed by GMP that she has been detained under the Mental Health Act.
The three people injured during the shocking incident earlier this week have now all been released from hospital after being assessed.
As part of the investigation, GMP says it is are also ‘aware of and looking into’ social media posts in relation to the incident, but would like to remind the public not to speculate or comment, as this is an ongoing live investigation.
Offering the latest update on the investigation as it progresses, Jon Shilvock, who is the Chief Inspector of GMP’s City of Manchester North division, commented: “Our investigation has continued at pace since… we were first made aware of the incident, and our thoughts are with those that were injured and were caught up in the incident.
“Whilst the physical injuries were not believed to be serious, we know the impact to those that were involved or were witnesses to this will be significant, and we want to reassure our community we are taking this very seriously.
“As our investigation progresses, we are aware that names relating to the incident are being circulated on social media which are unhelpful for the investigation. This is also causing concern with the victims and those that have been impacted therefore we would stress that people do not speculate regarding this incident.
Emily Sergeant -
25th August 2023 
