Average household energy bill in Oxfordshire rises to £1,717

This is almost £500 more than it was before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and it is forecast to increase by a further three per cent in January.

A survey by smart thermostat manufacturer tado revealed more than eight in 10 Brits fear their heating bills will stay high for at least the next three years.

The survey also revealed 39 per cent of people lowered their setpoint temperature in their home last winter to save money, and 67 per cent are more worried or aware of their heating costs than they were five years ago.

The UK energy price cap in recent years (Image: tado) Christian Deilmann, the co-founder of tado, said: "The energy price rises this winter show how vulnerable we all remain and why it is important to take control of your energy consumption."

He added: "Our survey reveals the vast majority of people are realistic that they will continue to face high energy bills and they are more concerned about that than five years ago."

Ofgem said the rise in the price cap was the result of higher prices on the international energy market, due to increasing geopolitical tensions and extreme weather driving competition and demand for gas, which determines the price of wholesale electricity.