GB News‘ regular programming was abruptly interrupted by a major breaking alert about the energy prices across UK households. Presenters Mark White and Ellie Costello returned to screens on Wednesday (May 27) and revealed that the British energy regulator, Ofgem, announced yet another rise in the energy price cap. Ellie shared: “Millions of households are facing another energy bill blow this summer.”

“Ofgem has confirmed the price cap will rise again from July, with gas bills jumping by 24% as the average household faces paying around £18 a month,” said Mark. He then read out a statement from the energy secretary, Ed Miliband, who stated: “The rise in the price cap because of a war we did not choose is deeply unwelcome news for households across the country. We know people were under pressure before this crisis, and that’s why easing that burden is our number one priority.”

The MP continued: “To help people facing higher costs, the Chancellor acted last week to freeze fuel duty and made bus travel free for children across England in August. We have taken £150 average costs off energy bills for the years ahead, and we have also extended the warm home discount for around six million families.

“We will continue to monitor the situation ahead of the winter and plan for all contingencies. In the immediate term, it is essential to de-escalate this conflict to bring oil and gas prices down, and as Britain faces the second fossil fuel crisis of this decade, we must learn the right lessons.”

Mr Miliband added: “The way to get bills down for good and avoid these price spikes is to go further and faster with this Government’s drive for clean homegrown power we control.

“We are upgrading as many homes as possible ahead of winter with the biggest investment in warm homes in British history.”

Customers will see a smaller price increase of around 5% on their electricity bills compared to gas bills, which are rising by 24%, Ofgem said.

Ofgem chief executive Tim Jarvis said: “Today’s price change reflects continued volatility in global energy markets. This means higher wholesale gas prices, driven by ongoing conflict in the Middle East, is impacting the price we pay for energy.”

Regulator Ofgem says the war means a household using a typical amount of gas and electricity will pay £221 more a year, bringing its annual bill to £1,862.

The jump will equate to a rise of £18 a month for the average household using both electricity and gas, with households seeing an increase of 24% on their gas bills and 5% on their electricity bills.

The energy cap covers 33 million households in England, Wales and Scotland. Regulations and bills are different in Northern Ireland.