With autumn officially here since yesterday's equinox, we're also approaching an exciting date for energy nerds: the start of a new Ofgem price cap period!

On 1 October the price cap is rising to £1,723, which is a 4% rise and very close to the EDF prediction of £1,730 we reported on back in July.

4% sounds ok, what's the big deal?

If it feels like you're paying even more than the 4% increase for the rest of the year but using the same amount of energy, you're not mistaken. This is because of the typical domestic consumption values (TDCVs) - the averages used by Ofgem to set the price cap.

These went up in the summer, and when TDCVs go up the price cap appears smaller than it was previously. So this rise may take a bit more getting used to than that small percentage suggests.

What about 2027?

Forecasts made by EDF now show the price cap breaking the £2,000 barrier for the first time since the energy crisis of 2022/23.

Thankfully, they also show the cap coming down again next summer - but still higher than the current level.

Stay tuned for more price cap updates, and a full explainer of TDCVs.

And if this is the energy price rise that tips the balance for you in favour of solar panels, we're always happy to chat about your energy needs here.