Price cap rise: Majority of Brits think their energy bill is bad value for money

EMBARGO: 22.30 Monday 31st March

55% of Brits think that their energy bill is bad value for money, a poll commissioned by the Liberal Democrats has revealed. It comes as Ofgem’s energy price cap comes into force today [Tuesday 1st April], hitting households with a 6.4% increase in their energy bills.

Almost one in two (44%) of UK adults think their water bills are bad value for money. Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said it was unsurprising so many feel they are being “ripped off” when energy and water bills are soaring while company bosses rake in millions of pounds in bonuses.

The poll also showed that three in four (75%) UK adults say that energy company executives should not be paid bonuses if the energy price cap continues to rise. In particular, regions such as Yorkshire and the Humber say that energy bills are bad value for money - with a whopping 66% of adults from the region saying their bills are poor value. 

The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to scrap the latest energy bill rise for the almost 10 million pensioners who’ve been stripped of their Winter Fuel Payments. The party is also calling on the Government to implement an energy social tariff to protect vulnerable people living in fuel poverty.

A previous poll by the Liberal Democrats in September found that three in four pensioners (75%) expected to be affected by the Government’s cut to Winter Fuel Payments. One in five (19%) of pensioners were planning to eat less due to the cut and over half (55%) would likely heat their homes less.

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: 

“Families are facing spiralling energy and water bills while company bosses rake in millions of pounds in bonuses. It’s no wonder so many feel they’re being ripped off.

“The Government must get a grip on energy bills, and fast. That means reversing their callous decision to cut Winter Fuel Payments and protecting families in fuel poverty from being hammered once again by unfair bill rises.”

Liberal Democrat Energy spokesperson, Pippa Heylings MP said:

“It is a damning indictment of the state of things when the British public think that their extortionate water bills are better value than their energy bills. 

“Liberal Democrats are urging the Government to finally heed our calls to protect vulnerable pensioners who have suffered through a winter without their Winter Fuel Payments - the least they could do is protect them from today’s 6% bill increase.

“Across the UK households are faced with spiralling energy bills whilst in the midst of the worst cost of living crisis of a generation. The Government must get a grip on energy bills by reforming energy levies on bills to make electricity cheaper and implementing a social tariff to protect the most vulnerable living in fuel poverty.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors: 

Methodology: Savanta interviewed 1,996 UK adults aged 18+ online between 28th February and 2nd March 2025. Data were weighted to be representative of the UK by age, sex, region, and social grade.

Full research can be found here. 

The previous poll can be found here.