Energy bills will increase by £221 for UK households after Donald Trump's war in Iran sent wholesale costs skyrocketing.The energy price cap, which governs the price of energy for the two thirds of Britons who are not on fixed-term contracts, will increase to £1,862 a year from July.This represents a 13 per cent or £18 a month increase from April's cap of £1,641. Yearly energy bills have not been this expensive since January 2024.Further price hikes are likely to come when the cap is reviewed again in October - as temperatures drop and the demand for energy rises. The price cap sets a maximum price per unit of gas and electricity used, meaning households only pay for the amount of energy they use.This means households will be largely shielded over the warm summer months, but concerns are growing about further price hikes this winter. Calls have been mounting for the Government to set out action to support the most vulnerable. However, Chancellor Rachel Reeves stopped short of any immediate energy measures in her cost-of-living plan.This is in contrast to the universal support provided by the previous Tory government in 2022, when Russia's invasion of Ukraine caused energy bills to soar. The price cap sets a maximum price per unit of gas and electricity used, meaning households only pay for the amount of energy they use (stock photo) Chancellor Rachel Reeves has stopped short of any immediate energy measures in her cost-of-living plan