the biggest rise in energy prices in living memory has come into effect in britain, just as millions of households face increases in other bills and national insurance payments. on average, gas and electricity bills will cost an extra £700 a year — a sum charities say millions of households will struggle to pay. the chancellor, rishi sunak, has previously pledged to "take the sting out" of the price rises. higher energy prices are not the only way households and businesses will feel a squeeze on their finances, as the cost of living increases. council tax bills are also on the rise across england, scotland, and wales, with the majority of households seeing total hikes of around 3% — an average of £67 a year. to offset energy price rises, the government is offering a £150 pound rebate for around 20 million households in england, in bands a to d. water bills are also rising by an average of about £7 a year in england and wales.