Money-saving expert Martin Lewis has said that Prince Charles has asked him to send a briefing note on rising energy bills as the scale of the cost of living crisis continues. Experts are suggesting the price caps could go up by as much as 64% in October taking household bills to more than £3,000 a year.
With millions across the country struggling amid the cost of living crisis and rising bills the increase expected in October is set to add even more pressure. The financial journalist spoke to the Prince of Wales on Tuesday about the issue as he received his CBE at Windsor Castle. He said he felt he needed to raise the alarm and warned that the energy crisis is “potentially more dangerous to lives than the pandemic”. .
Speaking at Windsor Martin said: “I would be far happier to have come and got my honour and have a nice fun day and not be talking about this because the world is wonderful but the world isn’t wonderful right now. And I think this is potentially more dangerous to lives than the pandemic.
Read more: Martin Lewis has one question for MPs as energy bills set to soar once again
“It is a cataclysmic problem that is going to face the country this winter. I am without embarrassment deliberately, provocatively, raising an alarm right now. And I will do that with everyone. And when you get the ear of the Prince of Wales for a moment like that it seemed the right time to take advantage.”
Confirming his conversation with Prince Charles on Twitter, Martin tweeted: "This is true. I am raising an alarm over catastrophic energy bills this winter and the Prince of Wales did ask me to send him a briefing note on the new scale of the energy bills crisis (which I of course will happily do)..."
This is not the first time he has questioned those in power about how they intend to curb rising prices. Earlier this week he questioned what Conservative party leadership candidates were offering to do to help ease the pressure.
Posting on Twitter he said: "Question I'd like all potential Conservative leaders to answer (RT if agree). The energy price cap's predicted to rise 64% in Oct taking a typical bill to £3,244/yr; & rise again in Jan to £500/yr more than when May's help package was announced. What'll u do to avoid this & when?"
The energy price cap already ballooned by 54% in April, hitting £1,971 as gas prices soared from last summer. But since then gas markets have remained tough for buyers. Last week experts at Cornwall Insight predicted that the cap could reach £3,244 per year from October and then £3,363 per year between January and March. The cap is calculated based on the price of gas and electricity on the wholesale market setting what Ofgem believes is a fair price for suppliers to charge their customers.
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