On one level, at the moment, this is simply the cost of providing the fuel. Supply factors have meant it costs more to supply and suppliers have to cover their costs. It isn’t someone trying to rip you off. It is simply the cost.
How far government should be intervening to help people struggling over this cost or any other is a political decision. They can subsidise fuel bills….but people need to grasp that the funds for this have to come from somewhere. It cannot just be them telling the firm to charge less. So if people receive subsidised bills, taxes somewhere along the line have to be raised to fund that and/or spending in other areas will have to be cut - schools? health? Whatever?
Government will expect and need to make sure that those who can reduce usage and save money elsewhere from their budgets do so. Many people will need to use less energy and not be so tasty warm, or wash their clothes as regularly, or cut down on their grocery bill or holidays, or cars or pension contributions or savings, or whatever else they spend on. Lots will be able to do this and find their energy bills. They won’t like doing it, but the government cannot fund all of those people with a subsidy when they do have some scope to adjust what they spend on.
Lots of families don’t have lots of flex in their budget, but there’s a bit. Tough choices in terms of a bit less heat, less nice food and putting up with not replacing items that could do with replacing makes life uncomfortable and not pleasant….but is possible. Lots will be in this category. Again the government needs to expect them to make these switches and not to subsidise, becaue it simply can’t afford to help everyone.
And then there are families who genuinely cannot make any adjustments. They are the ones who really need government help and will need it quickly.
The question for many, is whether they are in this final category or the one above. Lots are in this final category and I’d expect government will intervene further to help people because otherwise those with zero flex in their budget will be going hungry and their kids too. That won’t be acceptable …although they might have to put up with it for a while whilst government works it all out. But lots will be inThe previous group and be able to make some unpleasant choices and manage. It’s a grim existence to be selecting to have your house 3 degrees cooler and to have no treats at all in the weekly shop. It’s a grim existence to know you can pay the heating bills but there can’t be any takeaways for 6 months and no days out. But these are choices people will have to make, and can make.
I hope the costs drop soon and this horrible time is short lived and that government finds a way to identify those that really don’t have alternatives and gets help to them before they suffer too much.