With a young family myself, I fully appreciate that this is a very tough time for many households across Crawley and as such this Government is doing all it can to help people in this difficult economic climate. The Prime Minister made a personal commitment to help get energy bills down and recently announced a package of measures to help reduce bills and make the energy market fairer, clearer and simpler; including legislating to force energy companies to put people on their lowest tariffs. I would add also, that unlike some MPs, I do not claim my energy bills back from the taxpayer.
Labour’s proposed price freeze is a price may seem attractive but it wouldn’t work. Prices would go up before it comes in and after it ends and Ed Miliband has said he would break his promise during the freeze if there is a wholesale price rise. In addition, he wants a decarbonisation target that would add £125 to every household's bill. When Ed Miliband was Energy Secretary Labour doubled gas bills in office and their policies now would put them up again.
Through the Government’s Energy Bill, which continues to progress through the scrutiny procedures of Parliament, the aim is for consumers to get the best possible energy tariff. The reforms will provide new powers to force energy suppliers to put customers on the lowest tariffs unless they choose otherwise.
Whilst the new Green Deal is revolutionising energy efficiency in the UK by offering households upfront finance to make energy efficiency improvements, paid for by energy bill savings, the Government’s Warm Home Discount Scheme will also provide over two million households, including over 600,000 vulnerable pensioners, with a £135 discount on their electricity bills.
In addition to the Government’s commitment to protecting Winter Fuel Payments and to permanently increasing Cold Weather Payments from £8.50 to £25, the Prime Minister has announced that the Government will go even further and look at suspending the environmental levies which typically add £112 to peoples’ energy bills.
The recent price rise announcements by some of the ‘Big Six’ energy firms is disappointing and a direct result of the last government encouraging fewer energy supply companies where there used to be more with greater choice.
Until the Energy Bill forcing lower prices becomes law I would urge residents to use the independent, impartial consumer advisory group, Uswitch, for their energy comparison feature which helps you find the cheapest energy provider: http://www.uswitch.com/
Henry Smith MP