UK energy price cap to rise 4% as Iran conflict lifts gas costs

The British energy price cap will increase 4% in the next quarterly adjustment, according to Reuters. The cited driver is higher wholesale gas costs linked to the Iran conflict. The cap is Ofgem's primary retail protection mechanism; a 4% move directly raises bills for default-tariff households across Great Britain.

On the retail side, Ofgem has launched a consultation on renewing its Ban on Acquisition-only Tariffs beyond its current March 2027 expiry. The proposal would extend the ban to 31 March 2028. The BAT restricts suppliers from offering discounted tariffs exclusively to new customers, a practice Ofgem links to consumer harm in the switching market.

In the Belgian zone, Elia published two regulatory updates. The formal public consultation on CRM Capacity Contract terms opened 30 April 2026 and affects capacity remuneration mechanism participants. Separately, Elia updated Voltage Service Provider Terms and Conditions for the 2027-2028 contractual period, with implications for providers of voltage ancillary services on the Elia grid.