Energy bills will rise for millions of households in Great Britain through the coldest months of the year, after the industry regulator announced a surprise increase in gas and electricity costs from January.

The energy regulator, Ofgem , said on Friday that the government’s cap on energy prices will go up by 0.2% in the three months to March, equivalent to increasing the typical annual dual-fuel energy bill by £3 to £1,758.

The unexpected rise from the October to December level came despite predictions that households would benefit from a short-lived reprieve from rising energy bills because of falling wholesale market prices. However, the growing cost of the government’s energy policies has pushed the cap higher. Use smart tech, turn heat down, service boilers: how to save money on

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