Energy specialists at MoneySuperMarket Energy are advising households currently on standard variable tariffs to make the switch and lock in a fixed rate, ahead of average bills climbing by £35 from Wednesday, October 1, when the updated energy price cap will push typical annual energy costs to £1,755. If you're one of the millions of households on a variable rate, there's still time to lock in a fixed deal before the energy price cap rise kicks in. "Fortunately, switching energy provider is quick and simple, taking just a few minutes. Households who shop around now could save an average of £271, avoid the October price hike and protect themselves from future price rises. If you're thinking about switching, the best deals will likely start to be withdrawn from Wednesday, so act now to avoid missing out."