Greens demand urgent intervention following Ofgem price cap rise
26 August 2022
- Green Party calls on government to return price cap to October 2021 level
- Carla Denyer: “The way forward is clear – a nationwide home insulation scheme and large scale investment in renewable energy. The longer the government delays on this, the longer it will put the UK at the mercy of volatile energy prices and climate damaging fossil fuels”
Responding to Ofgem’s announcement that the new energy price cap will rise to £3,549 between October and December [1], Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said:
“This latest rise in the price cap is a horrifying blow to households across the country and a reminder of just how broken our energy system is.
“Without proper intervention, people are going to die as a result of these unaffordable energy prices. Yet the government continues to sit on its hands, offering no help and no reassurance to the millions of people who are wondering how they are going to survive this winter.
“Only the government can make an intervention of the scale and speed required to help people through this crisis. We need to return the price cap back to what it was in October 2021, so that it is much more affordable for more people, and allow the government to absorb the global price rises through taxing the huge profits of the oil and gas companies.
“We will then need to bring the big five energy retailers into public ownership to stabilise the market and lay the groundwork for the huge investment we need to see in renewables and insulating peoples’ homes, starting as soon as possible. [2]
“But it’s not just households suffering from these price rises. After years of austerity, public services and small businesses are also at serious risk. We want to see more support for small businesses, and local authorities need to be properly funded and given the autonomy to make the best decisions for their local communities.
“Ultimately, renewables are the cheapest form of energy, and the cheapest bill of all is the one you don’t have to pay because your home is well insulated and efficient. So, the way forward is clear – a nationwide home insulation scheme and large scale investment in renewable energy. The longer the government delays on this, the longer it will put the UK at the mercy of volatile energy prices and climate damaging fossil fuels.”
ENDS
Notes
1
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2022/aug/26/ofgem-raises-energy-price-cap-to-3549
2
For more information or to arrange an interview contact the press office on press@greenparty.org.uk or call 0203 691 9401