Experts reveal why the Ofgem price cap drop won't actually save you any money

And tips on how you could be making bigger savings!

Last week it was announced that the Ofgem price cap would be lowered in April. That means 11 million households will be saving £17 a year on their energy bills.

Related: Martin Lewis shares absolutely petrifying news about overdrafts on This Morning

All savings are worth celebrating, right? But Martin Lewis, our favourite money expert, warns households to not be fooled by the new lower price cap.

Ofgem price cap

Ofgem announced on the 7th February that on 1st April the price cap on standard and default tariffs would drop from £1,179 to £1,162 a year. For homes on a prepay tariff, the cap would drop from £1,217 to £1,200 a year.

kitchen with white walls oven and kitchen sink

(Image credit: Colin Poole)

However, Martin Lewis explains that households shouldn't rely on the price cap fall to save money. Households could be saving up to £370 a year by switching to the current cheapest energy deal.

'The price cap may have fallen by a smidgeon. But, the prices of the cheapest deals have plummeted, and are getting close to 2016 prices,' says Martin Lewis on his site Money Saving Expert.

living room with bright white walls and sofaset

(Image credit: Colin Poole)

'The price cap is only for six months. While many of these cheap deals are one-year fixed rates, meaning you're locked in on a low rate for longer.

'So while the new price cap rate from April is £1,162 a year for someone with typical usage. The market's cheapest deals are a little under £800 for the same usage,' the savings guru adds. 'Even some big six firms often have far cheaper deals are one-year fixed rates, meaning you're locked in on a low rate for longer.'

living room with white walls and wooden table

(Image credit: Colin Poole)

The price cap works by setting a limit on the maximum amount that a supplier can charge for a unit of gas and electricity. It is reviewed twice a year, with changes enacted in April and October.

If you find you are on a tariff that's within a few pounds of the price cap, you're probably paying too much.

Related: Ofgem reveals plans to remove gas central boilers from all households by 2050

Shop around and see if you could be saving £370 a year rather than a measly £17.

Rebecca Knight
Deputy Editor, Digital

Rebecca Knight has been the Deputy Editor on the Ideal Home Website since 2022. She graduated with a Masters degree in magazine journalism from City, University of London in 2018, before starting her journalism career as a staff writer on women's weekly magazines. She fell into the world of homes and interiors after joining the Ideal Home website team in 2019 as a Digital Writer. In 2020 she moved into position of Homes News Editor working across Homes & Gardens, LivingEtc, Real Homes, Gardeningetc and Ideal Home covering everything from the latest viral cleaning hack to the next big interior trend.