Ofgem has confirmed that the average annual energy bill will be below £2,000 for the first time since April 2022.
The energy price cap is set to fall to £1,923 from October for the last quarter of the year, Ofgem has just announced.
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.
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”.
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.
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.
The next quarterly energy price cap announcement will be in November 2023, which will cover January – March 2024, Ofgem has confirmed.
In gutting news for the Owls, the already struggling Sheffield Wednesday FC have been informed that they could very well be starting next season with an immediate points deduction.
From bad to worse, it seems, at the moment.
Wednesdayites have been through it all over the past few years, with unpaid debts and salaries resulting in administration, sparking protests; now relegation to the third tier and the threat of complete collapse.
And as if things weren't hard enough already, Sheffield Wednesday have now been told that they will automatically be deducted 15 points from the beginning of the 2026/67 League One campaign if creditors aren't paid in full - starting with outgoing and controversial owner, Dejphon Chansiri...
BREAKING: Sheffield Wednesday look set to start life in League One next season with a 15-point deduction, because none of the bidders currently trying to buy the club is prepared to pay £15m to the outgoing owner, Dejphon Chansiri. pic.twitter.com/UoAgIMsB4p
Chansiri has loaned over £60 million to the organisation during more than 11 years in charge, but because this money was never converted into share capital, he is the entity that the club owes the biggest amount to.
Addressing supporters in a statement back in September 2023, the 57-year-old member of the millionaire family that controls the Thai Union Group, wrote: "I will not inject any more money into the club if I am being treated unfairly.
"Those fans who create trouble [for] the club and me, and believe that they are the real owner of the club, need to be responsible for the financial matters of the club from now on."
It's fair to say that relations with the fans have far from improved since then, and they've been left even more furious following this most recent development.
At present, Chansiri must be paid at least £15m (effectively almost half of the entire organisation's total purchase price at current valuation), but none of the interested bidders has ultimately been willing to do so thus far.
However, the Arise Capital Partners LLC consortium - led by David Storch and son Michael, as well as Tom Costin - has been identified as the 'preferred' party to complete a buyout.
Newcastle United Mike Ashley was also said to be in the running to take over the club, but ultimately was unprepared to settle this fee with Chansiri, and there remain doubts over whether or not Storch is willing to either.
As for the loyal Hillsborough matchgoers, they have accused the EFL of punishing them and the club rather than the ownership and wider executive board, who have overseen this turbulent period for the historic local institution.
One person wrote underneath the post in social media: "So a club gets penalised because their owner is a piece of shit, but Man City and others just get away with it, makes sense"; many others have simply added that the pending treatment is "unfair" and targets the wrong people. What do you make of it all?
Elsewhere in the Steel City, fresh hope and a new chapter are coming to the world's oldest football club as native musician Jon McClure has been confirmed as the new chairman. Find out more down below.
Featured Images — Kenneth Yarham (via Geograph)/Kivo (via Wikimedia Commons)
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People from Yorkshire wanted to take part in next series of BBC’s popular Gladiators reboot
Emily Sergeant
The BBC is back casting for the next series of Gladiators, and producers are looking for people from Yorkshire to take part.
The gladiators are ready for a new series… but are the contenders?
That’s right – arguably the most exciting and energetic sports entertainment game show of all time is coming back for another series following its long-awaited reboot back in 2025, and that means that the BBC is looking for some brave new contestants to take part.
Yorkshire residents are among those producers are calling on to consider sticking an application in.
Unfamiliar with the premise of Gladiators? The massively-popular series – which is based on an American show of the same name – sees four contestants compete in a number of physical challenges against the ‘Gladiators’, all with the aim of securing as many points as possible for the final event, which is known as ‘The Eliminator’.
Image: BBC
Contestants battle against each other to win a place in the grand final, and ultimately be crowned the champion for the series.
Putting out a UK-wide casting call on the BBC website this week, producers Hungry Bear Media wrote: “Gladiators, one of the most exciting and energetic sports entertainment game shows ever is back for a fourth series.
“We are on the look out for the bravest members of the British public who have the speed and skill to take on our superhuman Gladiators.”
Reckon that’s you then?
With filming set to start soon, applications are now open for the new series of Gladiators, and all you need to do to be in with a chance of being selected as a contestant is being over 18 years old, and fill out an application form.
You can apply on the BBC website here, before applications close on 31 May 2026.
Emily Sergeant -
25th August 2023 
