Jacob Rees-Mogg warns consumers to watch out for fake messages

has warned consumers to watch out for fake messages claiming to be from .

The Government’s energy price cap to shield households and businesses from the worst of the impact of soaring oil and gas prices comes into effect today.

Under the energy price guarantee – which limits the unit price paid for kombi Servisi electricity and gas – means the annual bill for a typical household in England, Scotland kombi servisi and Wales will be held to around £2,500 for the next two years.

A similar scheme will operate in .

The Business and Energy Secretary said that any messages requesting personal or financial details should be treated as fraudulent as no applications are required and support will reach people automatically. 

Households will see the first instalment of the £400 energy bill support scheme in their October electricity bill. 

The discount will be automatically applied monthly in six instalments between October and March 2023.

In a statement, Jacob Rees-Mogg said: ‘While Putin’s weaponisation of energy has driven energy prices to record highs, we will not let his regime harm this country’s businesses and households.

‘Unprecedented government support is beginning this weekend, protecting families and businesses across the country from what was going to be an 80 per cent increase in energy bills this winter.’

‘I also urge people today to stay alert to scams.This support will reach people automatically and there is no need to apply,’ he added. 

The Government has said that without action, energy bills had been expected to hit £3,500 from October rising as high as £6,500 next year. 

Businesses, charities and public sector organisations will also be protected over the next six months.

Liz Truss said: ‘Livelihoods and businesses were at stake.The Government’s energy support limits the price they pay for gas and electricity, shields them from massive bill increases, and is expected to curb inflation too.

‘The cost of not acting would have been enormous.’

It was previously reported that scammers are sending out fake texts pretending to be the Government offering discounts on energy bills.

The fake messages, pretending to be from GovUK, are telling people they are eligible to apply online for a discounted energy bill as part of the Energy Bill Support Scheme. 

Ofgem confirmed to MailOnline that it has seen a rise in the number of ‘reports of scammers claiming you can get the £400 Energy Bill Support Scheme by registering bank details’.

The bogus texts have been sent from a range of different numbers.Some of the messages claim to come from ‘UK Help’, whereas others have come from a ‘Help Scheme’ or unknown numbers

The message reads: ‘GOVUK: You are eligible for a discounted energy bill under the Energy Bills Support Scheme.You can apply here.’

It then attaches a link attempting to convince people to click on the link to get to the government’s website.

But the link leads to a scammer’s website where victims’ bank details or personal information could be stolen.

How to beat energy bills rise: From turning off power-hungry appliances to charging your phone at work…cash-saving tips on eve of £2,500 price cap rise (and don’t forget to take your meter reading)

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Households across the UK were urged to take meter readings last night and prepare for higher energy bills from today as the typical bill will rise to no more than £2,500.

The new cap on energy prices, which is a rise of £529, will come into force from today, but is only a cap on the cost per unit and not a limit on a household’s total bill.

Households are therefore preparing to watch their energy use closely this winter as millions are predicted to struggle to pay their bills. 

Top tips include switching off devices usually on standby, defrosting the freezer and adjusting boiler settings to reduce temperature flow.

The government announced the new limit at the start of the month in an aim to ease the crippling crisis, which has seen fuel, energy and food bills soar. 

Energy industry experts warned households to read and submit their energy meter readings to their supplier before the price hike today to stop providers from estimating usage and charging a higher rate. 

It comes as 16 energy companies were told to improve how they support customers struggling with money by Ofgem this week. 

Ofgem had previously announced that the cap would rise to take the typical bill to more than £3,500 per year, with forecasts that this could peak at more than £6,000 in 2023.

But Prime Minister Liz Truss announced a two-year limit on the unit cost of electricity and gas, saving the typical household around £1,000.

Despite the step, markets have been in turmoil this week after the Chancellor announced a swathe of new tax cuts amounting to around £45 billion. 

Households can save money on their bills by turning down the flow temperature on the boiler and turning off its pre-heat function, which ensures a small amount of water is always kept hot and ready for use.

Brits are also advised to switch off and unplug appliances instead of leaving them on standby, defrosting the fridge and freezer and charging electric devices at work, rather than at home. 

Former Conservative MP Edwina Currie previously advised Good Morning Britain viewers to put foil behind their radiators to preserve heat, leaving Martin Lewis ‘speechless’. 

She said earlier this month: ‘What we have to do is not get it, not get emotional about it to the exclusion of using some common sense, to try to sit down and think about what we can all do, whether it’s in our businesses, whether it’s in our homes, not everybody can, I accept that, but many of us can do something and when we can, kombi Servisi that helps everybody else.

‘We really have to be cool and calm.’

She went on to offer viewers tips on how to keep their homes heated this winter, including the ‘dirty cheap’ method of wrapping tin foil on the backs of radiators to spread warmth and moving sofas away from heaters.

Ms Currie said: ‘Here’s one of my suggestions for a tip, something that’s dirt cheap, Martin knows about this sort of thing, you put some of this behind your radiators.

‘It really works, it makes the whole room nice and warm and it means you can turn down your thermostat without it causing you any more discomfort.

‘Most people my age have lived in houses without central heating, but we are dependent on it now and this kind of thing makes such a difference.’

Mr Lewis could be seen clutching his head in her hands as she held up a sheet of shiny tin foils to the screen.

Prices began rising as the world recovered from the coronavirus pandemic and saw a huge uptick in demand for oil and gas.

This was compounded by Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in February, which saw countries across Europe put in place strict sanctions on Russia and limit their reliance on Russian energy sources.

Russia has also cut off energy to various NATO member states by closing oil and gas pipelines. 

Ms Truss has said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had shown up the ‘flaws’ in the UK’s energy strategy over ‘decades’.

‘This is the moment to be bold.We are facing a global energy crisis and there are no cost-free options,’ she said.