Winter 2026 Energy Price Rises: How to Cut Your Heating Costs This Winter
Updated: Certainly WoodIf you've had half an eye on the energy news lately, you'll know it hasn't been quiet. Wholesale gas and electricity prices have been pushing higher over the past few weeks, and for anyone who heats their home over winter, whether that's with gas central heating, electric heating, or a wood-burning stove, it's worth understanding what's happening and what you can actually do about it.
Why are energy prices rising again?
A few things are converging at once:
Middle East tensions. Renewed disruption around the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil and LNG shipments, has spooked energy markets. Even short-lived incidents there tend to push gas prices up sharply, because so much of the world's gas supply depends on that route staying open.
Low European gas storage. Heading into the back half of the year, European gas storage levels are running well below both last year's levels and the five-year average. That matters because low storage means less of a buffer if a cold snap or supply hiccup hits in winter, so the market prices in that risk months in advance.
An unseasonal heatwave. Recent extreme heat across Northwest Europe has driven up electricity demand for air conditioning and cooling, which in turn increases gas-for-power generation, adding yet more demand on top of already-tight supply.
Wholesale gas and power contracts for winter 2026 have already moved up around 10% in a matter of days, and it's not just wholesale traders feeling it. Ofgem, the UK's energy regulator, confirmed a 13% rise to the household price cap for this quarter, driven by the same wholesale pressures, with further increases forecast as we move toward winter.
What this means for your household
None of this guarantees prices will keep rising in a straight line; energy markets are volatile and can ease as quickly as they spike. But the direction of travel over the last few months has been consistently upward, and several of the underlying pressures (geopolitical risk, low storage, seasonal winter demand) don't resolve quickly even if there's short-term calm.
Practically, that means:
- Standard variable tariffs are likely to keep tracking the cap upward through autumn and winter.
- Anyone relying on gas or electric heating should expect this winter to cost more than last winter, not less.
- The “wait and see if it comes down” approach carries real risk; prices have historically taken much longer to fall back than they did to rise.
How to actually control your heating costs
You can't control wholesale energy markets, but you can control how efficiently you heat your home and how exposed you are to price swings:
- Improve efficiency where you can. Simple things: bleeding radiators, draught-proofing doors and windows, insulating lofts, reducing how much heating you need in the first place, whatever fuel you're using.
- Consider supplementing gas or electric heating with a wood burner or stove. A well-run wood-burning stove can significantly cut how much you rely on gas or electric heating on cold evenings, insulating part of your heating costs from the wholesale market entirely.
- Burn efficiently, not just “any wood.” Kiln-dried, Ready to Burn certified logs with moisture content below 20% burn hotter, cleaner, and more efficiently than damp or unseasoned wood. That means more heat per log, less wasted fuel, and less creosote build-up in your flue, all of which adds up to a genuinely cheaper, safer way to heat with wood over a whole winter.
- Buy and store ahead of the cold snap, not during it. Firewood, like energy, tends to get more expensive and harder to source once everyone else is thinking about it too, typically once the weather turns in November and December.
Why now is a smart time to stock up
This is exactly the logic behind our current sale: save up to 20% sitewide on kiln-dried logs, crates and bundles, and firelighters, and if you order now, you can choose delivery any time up until the end of October. You get this winter's wood at today's price and today's discount, stored and ready, without needing to think about it again once the cold weather (and the price rises) really set in.
With wholesale energy markets already moving upward for winter 2026, locking in a chunk of your heating needs now, while prices are reduced and before the usual winter rush, is one of the simplest, lowest-effort ways to take some control back over your heating costs this year.
Frequently asked questions
Will UK energy prices go down before winter 2026?
It's possible, but not something to plan around. The pressures pushing prices up- low European gas storage, geopolitical risk around the Strait of Hormuz, and strong seasonal demand- tend to ease slowly rather than reverse quickly, even if there's short-term calm in the markets.
Is heating with a wood-burning stove cheaper than gas or electric heating?
It depends on your stove, your usage, and local fuel costs, but a well-run wood burner using efficient, kiln-dried logs can meaningfully cut how much you rely on gas or electric heating on cold evenings, insulating part of your heating costs from wholesale energy price swings.
What is the UK energy price cap and how does it affect me?
The energy price cap, set by Ofgem, limits what suppliers can charge per unit of gas and electricity on standard variable tariffs. It doesn't cap your total bill; the more you use, the more you pay, and it's reviewed every three months, with the current cap already up sharply due to wholesale market pressure.
When is the best time to buy firewood for winter?
Before the weather turns, typically well ahead of November. Buying early means better availability, no rush-hour pricing, and time for logs to be properly stored and ready to burn when you need them.
Order up to 20% off sitewide, with free UK bulk delivery any time up to the end of October.