People forced to work from home over the winter months will pay £131 more in energy bills on average.

Boris Johnson has issued new guidance calling for Britons to “work from home” where possible from Monday. This comes after gas and electricity prices soared in recent months, forcing domestic energy suppliers to exit the market.

Households not already on a fixed tariff are protected by the energy price cap, which limits how much suppliers can charge. However, the cap has been hiked since last year to push average bills up to £1,277. This means working from home will be around £24 more expensive than last year, according to Energy Helpline, a price comparison site. 

Those working from home for five days a week will pay around 17pc more on their bills than if they continued to travel to their workplace. For the typical household this would be a £131 increase if the order lasts for three winter months.

Working from home for four days a week would cost the average household around £105 more between December and February, while three days a week would cost £79, two days £53, and one day £26.