Government expected to scale back energy bills help

[IconicKitty]

Statement expected from Jeremy Hunt shortly..:.

The energy price guarantee expected to end in 6 months in April rather than in 2 years

But lots of people are struggling, not just the most ‘ vulnerable’.
If energy prices go to £400 or £500 per month, that’s unaffordable for most people I know.

Seems eminently sensible to me to review in 6 months.

And people seem to be forgetting that irrespective of affordability we are all supposed to be drastically cutting our energy useage because of Global warming. How comfortable do you think your grandchildren will be under water?

We can all cut back to an extent. Don’t you realise that before the government stepped in the energy bills could go to 5k per year?
As of April, I guess that’s what could happen again?
Theres only so much you can do to cut back with a family with children. You still need heating on in the cold to stop your pipes bursting. You still lay the energy companies standing charges just for being connected.
Have people forgotten the energy increases that we were facing until 6 weeks ago?
Don’t people on here understand that they could be paying 5/6 k per year? And Jeremy ain’t going to help you.

Hopefully they do something like I think Germany has done, where unit costs are capped up to something like 80% of average usage, and then market rates above that.

It provides baseline support and helps to encourage reduced energy use.

There would need to be extra support for particular vulnerable groups who can't easily reduce their consumption, but it would be a much fairer scheme.

Martin Lewis is talking about £7500 next year.

I'm really hoping someone sensible brings in a tiered payment scheme.

Everyone gets a 'lifeline' amount of lecky for free, enough to cook a meal, warm a room, boil the kettle and have 1 quick wash a day. Then a low rate for the other essentials and people needing medical extras. Then 2 or 3 tiers of higher costs per unit for people who could cut back to the basics if they need to. Those pissing electricity&gas away must pay a higher tariff than everybody else.

In other words, the universal cap needs scrapping. If you're buggering up the climate you can pay for all the emergency services we're going to eventually need.

There.

Sorted.

I think that after April 2023, the financial help will only be available to means-tested benefits recipients and small businesses. Assuming that this particular gov is still in charge of course, which I wouldn’t bet on - I have no idea what will happen politically over the coming weeks.

But most people who aren’t on benefits can’t afford the energy bills.. it’s not all about people on benefits. How can someone on 30 k a year with a family afford 7 k a year on energy?

This is a worry! Plenty of us are on average or below average wages that don’t need means testedbenefits. Bills in April, even though it will be approaching spring summer could cripple lower to mid income people. I’m all for help for those most vulnerable/poorestthat goes without saying but the energy cost rises affect many that should be managing ok but aren’t.

While we personally can probably just about cover big rises it would stop any discretionary spending to local businesses or travel for example all of which are already struggling. That’s not a right but you need people with spare money spending to help the economy. We are already spending less and saving what we can because of the shit show of uncertainly that’s going on around us

@Aeio just read up on what he did to the NHS.

Yes it's people in the middle too who would struggle

Where did you read that? This is copy and pasted from a tweet by Martin Lewis today:

“NEWS: The projected new energy price cap, that will start in April when the price guarantee ends, will be:

UP 73% taking a bill for typical use (use more pay more use less pay less) from £2,500/yr to £4,350

The cap will then be DOWN 15% in July to £3,700/yr typical use.”

But that’s a massive jump still. We have gone up to £2500 a year from the previous £1200 or whatever it was last year.
And now going to typical usage of £3700 a year? It’s madness
Dont forget everyone’s mortgage payments ill
be going up too. My interest rates have already doubled from 2% to 4.5%.
And next year looking at 4k a year on energy ?

The government should be investing in subsidies for insulating homes - this would save households energy costs and provide employment for insulation companies. Could be done so many homes are insulated by next winter if energy prices continue as they are.

they should also invest in green energy to help reduce our reliance on imported energy. It’s quicker to knock up solar farms and offshore wind than it is to build a fucking nuclear power station. Funnily enough the Tories don’t like that because they’ve had energy companies lobby and sell them propaganda for the last 40 years!!

@Catlady2021

Yes a massive jump and would be horrendous for many people but not in the same league as £7500 per year.

Sagalooshoe "In other words, the universal cap needs scrapping. If you're buggering up the climate you can pay for all the emergency services we're going to eventually need."

so you think that the cap - which isn't really a cap IMHO but I won't quibble over semantics - should go for everyone, or for people using more energy?

That’s a good question and I can’t find it now. I showed my dh (so I know I didn’t dream it!) and we had a conversation about that being him and a lot of other small businesses out of business.