A major UK energy firm has urged customers to do one thing to offset the impacts of soaring gas prices linked to the war between the US, Israel and Iran. Global oil and gas prices spiked following supply disruption in the Middle East, as key shipping routes were blocked and Qatar halted production of liquified natural gas after attacks on its facilities. Nick Pocklington, CEO of Good Energy, warned that even though the UK isn’t directly involved in the conflict, domestic prices could be pushed up because “gas is traded on international markets and is highly sensitive to geopolitical risk”.

While he said there is no “silver bullet” for shielding UK households from volatility, the energy boss urged Brits to “reduce overall energy demand” while the uncertainty continues. He told the Express: “Simple measures like improving insulation, being more mindful of when and how energy is used and upgrading inefficient appliances can all make a meaningful difference. Even small reductions add up over time, particularly when prices are under pressure.”

Mr Pocklington warned that the UK’s reliance on imported gas has left households “vulnerable to events happening thousands of miles away” as the Iranian conflict enters its fifth day.

Israel launched fresh strikes on the region in recent hours, while footage also showed the US consulate in Dubai on fire following an apparent Iranian drone attack on Tuesday.

Roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and gas flows through the Strait of Hormuz, which is a narrow waterway between Iran and the United Arab Emirates.

Mr Pocklington said: “Whenever there is renewed conflict on the global stage, energy markets react quickly – and that’s exactly what we’ve seen again in recent days.

“For UK consumers, this matters because gas still plays a disproportionate role in setting the price of electricity.”

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He added: “Even though renewables now generate a significant share of our power, the wholesale electricity price is often set by the marginal gas plant.

“So when gas prices jump, electricity prices tend to follow – regardless of how much wind or solar is actually on the system that day.

“In the short term, that can translate into higher wholesale costs for suppliers, which may feed through into bills over time, depending on how long the volatility lasts and how the price cap evolves.”

UK gas prices surged to the highest level in three years on Tuesday, and Brent crude oil temporarily rose above $85 (£63) a barrel for the first time since July 2024.

Neil Wilson, Saxo UK investor strategist, said the oil and gas price rises showed “markets are not buying President Trump’s promise to protect and insure shipping in the region”.

He added: “The fact is it’s just not feasible to reasonably protect all ships in the region.”