Under Rishi Sunak, the Conservative government introduced a universal energy rebate, which gave all UK households a £400 discount on energy bills over the winter months.
However, forecasts at the time showed a significantly higher increase, with energy bills expected to rise by 80% in October 2022 before the government stepped in with support packages.
Andy Burnham’s new government has already introduced changes which will see VAT removed on electricity bills, but this will only save households an average of £3.75 a month.
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The prime minister has promised to make the cost of living a priority, and charities are calling for further measures in the chancellor’s upcoming autumn statement to ensure people can afford the essentials they need to survive.
“The October budget cannot be a missed opportunity to protect the most vulnerable households from this impending increase,” Copeland said.
“Millions are already burdened by energy debt and cutting back – and that’s before the cold weather hits. Energy bills jumping by a quarter during the coldest months would have a huge impact.
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“The deepest support must be focused on those facing the greatest hardship, including low-income households, families with children, disabled people, carers and others with high unavoidable energy needs. Otherwise, the most vulnerable will face yet another impossible winter.”
Energy bills are already expected to rise by more than £60 a year from October 2026 to January 2027.
Regulator Ofgem announced a 4% rise to its energy price cap last month, meaning that an average UK household will now pay around £1,723 a year. That’s more than £143 a month, around £5 extra than current rates.
Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said: “Energy bills are already at unaffordable levels and the price rises in October are now likely to be followed by a brutal increase in January.”
He argues that it is the “entirely predictable result of leaving families exposed to volatile fossil fuel markets and an energy system which has generated over £6bn in UK profits for just a handful of firms and a record level of energy debt for consumers”.
“Yet, even today, the oil and gas industry is using this moment to demand more drilling. This ‘drill more, bill more’ approach would not reduce anyone’s bill by a penny, but it would line the pockets of the price shock profiteers,” Francis added.
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“What would make a difference to households now is a concerted effort to get off gas. That means breaking the link between electricity prices and the gas market, speeding up roll out of the Warm Homes Plan and putting support in place before this winter arrives.”
If you need help with your energy bills, read Big Issue’s guide on how to get support.
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