Millions face fuel poverty, energy bosses warn

As many as four in 10 people in Britain could fall into fuel poverty in October, energy bosses warned, as they called for more support from the Treasury for vulnerable households.

ScottishPower chief executive Keith Anderson said the Government should take £1,000 off the bills of the poorest people in the country in October.

The Government or billpayers would then pay this off over 10 years, he suggested.

“I think the problem’s got to the size and scale that it requires something significant of that nature where those people who are deemed to be in fuel poverty or vulnerable need something of the size and scale that puts their bills back to where it used to be before the gas crisis,” he told MPs on the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee.

Mr Anderson called that “stage one”, which should be followed up with a social tariff that gives poorer households discounted energy. This should replace the current price cap, he said.

He added it is “perverse” that customers with prepayment meters – who are likely to be more vulnerable – pay more for their energy than those who pay by direct debit.

E.ON UK chief executive Michael Lewis said his company would support a social tariff, but called it a long-term measure.

He said that between 30% and 40% of people in Britain might go into fuel poverty from October when the price cap is likely to rise significantly again.

EDF estimates that its most vulnerable tenth of customers will go from paying £1 in every £12 they have on energy bills to £1 in every £6.

Centrica boss Chris O’Shea said prepayment customers will start seeing a real increase in October.

At the start of April the price of energy soared by around 54% for the average household, but meanwhile the weather is getting warmer, so consumption is likely to drop.

Those who are paying their energy bill by direct debit will see prices go up this summer to build up credit for the winter, but prepayment customers will not do that so will see an even bigger rise in October.

Two months ago the Government announced a £200 rebate to be applied to energy bills in October, which will need to be paid back over the next few years.

Mr Lewis called for the £200 to be increased if bills go up significantly again in October, and for the repayment period to be extended if necessary.

After the hearing, Labour’s shadow secretary of state for climate change and net zero Ed Miliband said: “As energy bills rise by record amounts for millions of families, it is shameful that Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak are refusing to support the British people facing a cost of living crisis.

“It tells you everything you need to know about this Government that they stand by whilst working people, families, and pensioners suffer. Britain deserves better. All they have to offer is a Buy Now Pay Later loan scheme that will saddle families with higher bills in years to come.

“Labour would introduce a package of real support to bring down bills by up to £600, funded by a one-off windfall tax on the oil and gas producers making record profits.”