Fury over Winter energy crisis: Millions of households will pay £100 MILLION more this year with families facing an extra £195 each as gas prices send bill rocketing
- The Liberal Democrats claim households will pay £100 million more this year
- Analysis by the party said families will pay an extra £195 each over the year
- Sir Ed Davey criticised the Government for ‘totally failing to tackle the problem’
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey warned energy bills will be the ‘worst possible gift’ this Christmas as the party found households will pay £100 million more this year.
The party’s analysis says that bills will rise by £104,141,465.75 in the seven days between Christmas Day and New Year, compared with the same period in 2020.
The Liberal Democrats have also said that because of the rise in the energy price cap, families will end up paying an extra £195 each over the year.
Sir Ed criticised the Government for ‘totally failing to tackle the problem’.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey warned energy bills will be the ‘worst possible gift’ this Christmas as the party found households will pay £100 million more this year (file photo used)
He said: ‘The Christmas period is already set to be tough but this is the worst possible gift from the Government.
‘Once again ministers are leaving hard-working families out in the cold.
‘For many the choice between eating and heating will become a stark one this winter – in sharp contrast to the Number 10 parties and Boris Johnson’s posh wallpaper.
‘The spike in gas prices is seeing energy bills rise to unprecedented levels. Next year energy bills are projected to rise by at least another £400, possibly an inflation-busting £500 a year.
‘Meanwhile, we’ve seen suppliers collapse, and a reduction in competitive prices.
‘The Conservatives have totally failed to tackle the problem.
Sir Ed, pictured, criticised the Government for ‘totally failing to tackle the problem’
‘They’ve scrapped insulation programmes that would have reduced people’s bills, cut support for the most vulnerable whilst increasing the UK’s dependence on imported gas, making our country more vulnerable too.
‘Liberal Democrats are calling for a new long-term home insulation programme to cut bills permanently, end fuel poverty and reduce emissions.
‘As this is an emergency, we also need action now so the Government must double and extend the Warm Home Discount to help the most vulnerable households with their heating bills.’
This comes as the Government is due to hold crunch talks with energy industry bosses in a bid to address rapidly rising wholesale gas prices after providers warned bills could skyrocket more than 50% to £2,000 a year.
Kwasi Kwarteng, pictured, who is the Energy Secretary as well as the Business Secretary, has already been talking to chief executives individually
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng will virtually meet with chief executives of major suppliers who are said to be asking for tax cuts and a relaxation of green levies, The Times reported this week.
Mr Kwarteng, who is also the Energy Secretary, has already been talking to chief executives individually.
Earlier this week Emma Pinchbeck, chief executive of Energy UK, described the situation as a ‘nationwide crisis’, telling BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘Domestic energy prices are going to go up 45% to 50% in the spring.
‘It is looking pretty serious for the spring. This is a system-wide issue now. We are asking for the Treasury in the UK to intervene as others have [in Europe].’
Fears of runaway household bills in the new year have been mounting since rising gas prices began bankrupting suppliers in September.
Since then, prices have risen from 54p per therm of gas to £4.50.
Since 2019, energy suppliers in the UK have been subject to a price cap put in place by Ofgem, limiting the amount they can charge customers.
With the rising prices, many say they were paying more for gas than they could charge.
The cap is moved twice a year based on the price of energy and is due to next be changed in April.
The regulator is already consulting on a series of proposals which would mean the biggest overhaul of the price cap since it was launched if implemented next year.