Rising energy costs
British utility warns of ‘disastrous winter’
In the face of skyrocketing energy costs in Great Britain, utilities are warning of the serious consequences for consumers in drastic terms. photo
© Steve Parsons/PA Wire/dpa
Gas and electricity prices are also climbing in the UK. Now an energy company is warning that “half of UK households could soon be living in fuel poverty”.
In the face of skyrocketing energy costs in Great Britain, utilities are warning of the serious consequences for consumers in drastic terms. “Despite the government’s announced support, we are facing a dramatic and disastrous winter for our customers,” Philippe Commaret of energy company EDF told BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday. “In fact, half of British households could be living in fuel poverty in January.” Commaret advocated eliminating VAT on energy bills. Because of the increase in electricity and gas bills, the state is taking in more money anyway, the manager said. EDF has five million customers in the UK.
This Friday, the regulator Ofgem will probably raise the maximum limit for electricity and gas prices significantly. It is expected that an average household will have to pay more than £3,500 a year on the basic tariff in the future, up from £1,971 so far. Experts expect a jump to more than £4,000 in January and more than £6,000 per year in April. Last winter the “price cap” was still 1138 pounds.
The outgoing government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a government energy grant totaling £400 for every household. But experts consider the project to be completely inadequate. Outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants to leave further measures to his successor, but this will not be known until September 5th. The opposition demands that the state freeze energy costs for consumers.