Government has two weeks to deliver on energy support – charities

With just two weeks to go until Ofgem announces an expected rise in energy bills, charities have written to the current Prime Minister urging the government to go further and faster to solve the energy costs crisis.

It comes as energy bills are forecast to rise by 18 per cent in July and a further four per cent in September, with Ofgem due to confirm the changes on May 27. Any increase will take effect from July 1.

Polling for the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit found that the cost of living was the top driver of voting intention overall and energy bills were the single biggest cost-of-living concern among voters in the recent elections.

Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition who helped organise the letter, said: “In just 15 days, households will learn how much their energy bills will increase.

“The government should be focused on working out a package of support for vulnerable households and those in energy debt now, while urgently reforming electricity prices to bring down costs for everyone.

“Ministers must put aside the power struggle and get on with the day job.

“The government must make sure that more households, especially those on lower incomes, can make the switch to clean electricity and feel the savings in their bills.

“That means breaking the link between electricity and gas prices for good, and rapidly expanding support for solar panels, heat pumps, insulation and electric vehicles.

“Ministers need to be on the side of bill payers, not billionaires and go much further and faster to get us off the fossil fuel rollercoaster for good.”