By Susanna Twidale LONDON (Reuters) -Millions of Britons will pay higher energy costs from April after regulator Ofgem said its domestic price cap would rise 6.4% due to soaring wholesale energy prices.

British household energy bills are set to climb in April after regulator Ofgem said it would lift the price cap by 6.4 per cent following an increase in wholesale costs. The regulator on Tuesday set the price cap at a level for the period between April and June that would see a typical household pay £1,849 a year, up from £1,738 now.

Energy bills for a typical household will rise by more than £100 a year in April under regulator Ofgem's new cap - a higher than expected increase adding pressure on people's finances. The 6.4% increase means a household using a typical amount of gas and electricity will see their annual bill rise by £111 a year,