The fear is leading to many people having to make the unenviable choice of heating or eating. Fuel poverty levels are shockingly high and seem set to rise even further.
The UK Government’s energy price cap is time limited to spring next year and its expiry will see bills soar to unprecedented levels.
Extending the cap, which will be inevitable, raises the question of how this support should be funded.
The news today showing British multinational Shell had doubled its profits to £8.2billion in just three months – double that of the same period last year – provides an answer.
Oil giants like Shell, who are profiting from the energy crisis, must be made to foot the bill for the financial misery facing customers. Their profits work out at more than £1000 a second.
The alternative is for future generations to meet the cost through extra borrowing by the Government. The Tory administration has enacted a limited windfall tax but it is nowhere near enough.
The cash raised so far barely makes a dent in the actual bill to the taxpayer and a proper windfall tax on energy giants must be pushed through.
Labour’s plan for a windfall tax is much better and would raise a serious sum of money to freeze prices. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has promised a “compassionate” conservatism that protects the vulnerable.
It now looks like he may be about to put his money where his mouth is – not before time.
Not so Cleverly
James Cleverly has had a busy week. The Foreign Secretary endorsed Boris Johnson last weekend only for the ex-PM to pull out of the leadership race.
Cleverly was then heavily criticised for comments in which he suggested gay football fans should show respect to World Cup hosts Qatar.
The Tory minister should focus on the day job. Brian Glendinning was jailed in Iraq last month over a £20,000 debt to a Qatar bank. The Scot travelled to Basra for work but now faces a two-year jail sentence.
His local MP has written to Cleverly on the matter and been ignored. Brian’s family staged a demo outside Holyrood yesterday to try to get some movement on the case.
It’s now up to the UK Government to step in. The Foreign Secretary must intervene with authorities in Iraq and Qatar. And Cleverly should have the common courtesy to respond to letters from Brian’s family as a matter of priority.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
