Scottish Power boss tells government to give £1000 to low income households. We can all pay it back later, he advises.

[flashbac]

I think there has to be better ideas than this:

"Scottish Power has proposed that the government underwrites a “deficit fund” that could allow energy suppliers to cut £1,000 off bills for low-income households. The money would be paid down over a decade by adding £40 a year to all household energy bills. It is hoped that bills would come down over time as wholesale market prices fall back towards historic norms.

Anderson said he had presented his plans to MPs but so far not gained traction."

www.theguardian.com/business/2022/may/09/scottish-power-boss-urges-sunak-to-take-swift-action-on-energy-bills-crisis

I don't like that an energy boss, of a company making huge profits from the crisis, is suggesting something like this, and energy companies get away with it.

Not being funny but who asked him for policy advice?

Taxpayers already pay for thousands of civil servants and politicians, maybe ask one of them to like do their actual job and we might get a more sensible list of options.

I don't necessarily think it's a terrible idea.

The fact is something has to be done to protect those at the absolute bottom from energy prices which have increased massively and will probably increase again in October.

Likewise, if those people are given help then that money has to come from somewhere. If not from a direct levy then from somewhere - be it increased taxation, a windfall tax or whatever. An energy tax, for want of a better term, is as viable a way to fund it than anything else.

At least it's a practical idea which is more than most have come up with.

Well it can come from elsewhere, from taxing energy producing companies, or cutting government expenses or somewhere else: it’s certainly not coming from my pocket when I have to deal with rising prices too.

Being on a single low full time wage just feels like a continuous struggle with nothing spare but no help. Also a lot of help seems to be targeted at debt, such as grants for energy bills, from what I've read. If you manage to live within your means even though it means choosing between heating and eating then it seems you are on your own?

it can come from elsewhere, from taxing energy producing companies, or cutting government expenses or somewhere else: it’s certainly not coming from my pocket when I have to deal with rising prices too. Absolutely agree with this. Am fed up with this people who work should be so happy to pay more tax and take on more debt with a happy song in their heart!

But why should those who don’t work be able to sit in warm homes while those of us that do don’t have that luxury? People are working from home wrapped up in blankets and wearing hats and gloves or spending all their money on petrol to get themselves to work if they work outside the home… or both like me.

But why should those who don’t work be able to sit in warm homes while those of us that do don’t have that luxury?

Among the people who don't work are the most vulnerable people in society when it comes to the health effects of cold homes, the elderly and those with chronic illnesses. I think we do need a buffer for those who are most at risk but I think we need to be more strategic about how we get money to those people than, say, picking out council tax bands.