Liz Truss expected to freeze energy bills in tax-funded scheme

Addition of 400 discount would effectively keep price cap at current rate of 1,971

Liz Truss is expected to announce plans to freeze energy bills at about 2,500 a year - but will not claw back the cost through customers' future bills, leaving the taxpayer to pick it up instead.

The 400 universal handout to be given to households this autumn is expected to be factored in, so the energy price cap would effectively be maintained at about the current 1,971 rate.