The government has issued a statement addressing Friday's announcement that the average household bill will rise by 80 per cent.
Ofgem announced that the energy price cap, for the average household, will soar to £3,549 in October - increasing from £,1971. It means that millions of households across England, Scotland, and Wales which pay for their energy on default tariffs should expect their bills to increase exponentially from October 1.
Many have urged the government to do more to help households cope with high energy bills in the winter while also dealing with a worsening cost of living crisis. The government has now released a statement discussing why the energy price cap increased by so much as well as reminding people that support for bills are available for vulnerable households
READ MORE: BREAKING: Energy price cap will rise to £3,549 in October, Ofgem announces
A government spokesperson said: “We know people are incredibly worried about rising energy bills, following unprecedented gas prices across the continent driven by global events, including Putin’s aggression in Ukraine and his weaponisation of energy in Europe. Direct support will continue to reach people’s pockets in the weeks and months ahead, targeted at those who need it most like low-incomes households, pensioners and those with disabilities.
"As part of our £37 billion package of help for households, one in four of all UK households will see £1,200 extra support, provided in instalments across the year, and everyone will receive a £400 discount on their energy bills over winter. The civil service is also making the appropriate preparations in order to ensure that any additional support or commitments on cost of living can be delivered as quickly as possible when the new Prime Minister is in place.”
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said that the increased energy price cap is “nothing short of a catastrophe” for struggling households. “The only option is for energy prices to be frozen before these rises wreak havoc on our communities. Then we need a proper plan to be put in place to bring bills down next year,” he said.
“As millions suffer the Conservatives do nothing. No policy from the government, no plan from Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak. They have no idea how much pain these energy prices will cause our country. They are simply unfit to govern.”
Labour shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said: "Today’s announcement will strike fear in the heart of many families, and force many to make unthinkable choices this winter. The Tories now face an urgent choice.
“They can carry on letting oil and gas companies make huge profits whilst every family suffers with bills rising this winter. Or they can act now and stop the energy price cap rising, by bringing in a windfall tax on those oil and gas profits.
“People deserve a government that can meet the scale of this national emergency – not this spectacle of a Tory leadership race or a Prime Minister that put his out of office on months ago. Labour is on your side, and our fully-funded plan to freeze the price cap will make sure households don’t pay a penny more this winter, saving you £1,000.
“Our mission for home grown renewable energy and to insulate 19 million homes will keep bills down for the long term too.”
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