Portsmouth faces £52 annual energy bill rise, the third smallest in the South East

Households in Portsmouth face an increase of £52.05 in their annual energy costs under the new October price cap, with higher gas costs partly offset by a small saving on electricity.

Research by building warranty provider Buildsafe found that Portsmouth has the third-smallest increase among the 63 South East areas included in the study. Only Gosport and Southampton have smaller rises.

Across the region, the change in electricity and gas costs ranges from £48.60 a year in Gosport to £101.96 in Elmbridge.

The study used local energy consumption figures to calculate what a year of the same usage would cost at the July-September and October-December rates. The new rates took effect on 1 October.

Electricity costs change relatively little in the highest-ranking areas, as lower standing charges offset much of the increase in the unit rate. Gas costs rise much more.

The Havant borough faces an annual increase of £60.70, while Fareham’s rise is £62.95. Their estimated annual electricity and gas bills reach £1,901.65 and £1,938.09 respectively.

The South East areas facing the smallest annual energy cost increases

At the other end of the ranking, Gosport is the least impacted area in the South East. Households still face an increase, but at £48.60 a year, it is less than half the rise seen in Elmbridge. Estimated annual electricity and gas costs move from £1,658.61 to £1,707.21.

Southampton follows as the second least impacted area, with households facing an extra £49.82 a year. Gas costs rise by £51.11, while electricity becomes £1.29 cheaper, taking the combined annual bill from £1,766.62 to £1,816.43.

Portsmouth ranks third among the least affected areas. Households use an average of 2,958 kWh of electricity and 8,192 kWh of gas, taking estimated annual costs from £1,673.61 to £1,725.66. This means households could pay £52.05 more a year, with higher gas costs partly offset by a £2.40 electricity saving.

Commenting on the findings, Giles Fallan, CEO at Buildsafe, said: “A rise in gas prices during summer can be less noticeable when the heating is off. From October, households will be paying the higher rate just as they start using more of it.

“The electricity figures might look reassuring on their own. Some areas even get a small saving. But if gas is heating the home and providing the hot water, that is where most of the extra cost will come from.

“For someone who has already cut back, being told to use less again is not much help. The next question is whether the home is making it harder than it should be to stay warm. If a room loses its heat quickly, or never gets warm in the first place, find out why before spending money trying to fix it.

“Start with the things you can check, such as draughts and heating controls. For insulation or bigger work, get advice based on the property itself. A house that holds its heat better needs less heating, and that continues to matter whichever way the next price cap moves.”