Households across the UK are preparing for another increase in energy bills, with the energy regulator Ofgem’s new three-month price cap set to raise costs by an average of 4% from the coming period. The move has prompted Scottish First Minister John Swinney to call for “urgent and meaningful action” from the UK government to alleviate the pressure on families.
The price cap is expected to result in an additional £60 per year for households with typical gas and electricity consumption. This latest increase follows a rise in July, which saw households facing a maximum bill of £221, partly attributed to conflict in the Middle East.
Mr Swinney highlighted the discrepancy between past government pledges and current realities. “The UK government came to office promising to cut people’s bills by £300, yet bills are already more than £250 higher – and they are going to increase further as we head into winter,” he stated. He added that these rising costs are creating “unnecessary difficulties for families already struggling with other pressures on household budgets.”
His comments follow recent reassurances from UK Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh regarding Labour’s commitment to reducing energy costs. Writing on Reddit, Ms Fahnbulleh pointed to new measures, including Andy Burnham’s decision to remove VAT from electricity bills. She acknowledged that “we know there is more to do and we are getting on with the job of driving bills down.”
The First Minister's concerns were echoed by Sharon Graham, General Secretary of the Unite union, who described the price cap increase as “another nail in the coffin of household budgets this winter.” Ms Graham advocated for a more fundamental shift in the energy market, stating: “The time for stopgap and ad hoc measures is long gone. We need a complete overhaul of the energy market based on public ownership to drive down bills and end profiteering.”
Beyond immediate relief, Mr Swinney also reiterated his call for the devolution of energy powers to Scotland. He argued that greater control would enable the Scottish government to provide more comprehensive support to citizens grappling with the cost of living and ensure that Scotland’s energy resources directly benefit its residents.
“Scotland is an energy rich country, so households should not be worrying about their bills – urgent and meaningful action is needed now,” Mr Swinney asserted. “It is clear to me that we need full control over Scotland’s energy resources so we can bring down bills and help people with the cost of living.”
Michael Behr, a renewables reporter at Energy Voice, has been reporting on energy globally for over ten years, now focusing on the technologies driving the UK’s energy transition.
