THE UK’s Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has said household energy bills will be going up from October because the UK does not control its own power.
The average household energy bill is set to increase by £149 after Ofgem said it was raising its price cap.
The regulator announced it is hiking its price cap by 10% from the current £1568 for a typical household in England, Scotland and Wales to £1717.
Ofgem said rising prices in the international energy market, due to heightened political tensions and extreme weather events, were the main driver behind the decision.
Miliband also told Sky News that the rise in energy prices was a “direct result” of the UK’s “exposure to international gas markets”, adding that the UK does not have energy security.
Labour have previously pledged to cut household energy bills by £300.
Miliband (below) said: “I know this will be worrying news for lots of families who will be facing even greater struggles this winter and it’s a direct result of our country’s exposure to international gas markets that are controlled by dictators and that is a legacy left to us by the last government.
“That’s why this government has a plan to do something about it – our mission for clean, homegrown power that we control in this country. It’s why we’ve hit the ground running in just seven weeks, consenting new solar power, overturning the ban on onshore wind, precisely to give our country the energy security we don’t have at the moment.
“This government will also do everything it can to protect bill payers – reforming the regulator so it’s a strong champion of consumers, making standing charges fairer, and increasing funding for energy efficiency so people can cut bills.”
During the election campaign, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Labour’s Great British Energy plans would reduce household bills by £300.
Labour were criticised last month amid “chaos and confusion” over the figure after Miliband began to start ducking questions in a TV interview.
Starmer later stood by his election pledge, saying he “wouldn’t make a single promise or commitment” that he could not keep.
On the back of the rise in energy bills, Martin Lewis warned on Friday morning Labour must “rethink” the decision to cut the Winter Fuel Payment.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves recently announced that the UK Government would cut back the Winter Fuel Payment, which was previously universal and worth between £100 and £300 for British pensioners.
The money saving expert took to Twitter/X to give his thoughts, including a warning that “almost all pensioners” will need to find £100s more than last winter.
