ITV News Consumer Editor Chris Choi Says How the Cost of Living Crisis Affects Those Who Have Difficulty Paying Their Bills The biggest leap in home energy bills to live memory has come as charities warn that 2.5 million more households are going to be “stressed out” and vendor sites have remained indifferent to customers. The maximum price of energy for those who have defaulted bills that pay by standing order is increased by 693. From 1,277 £ to 1,971. From April 1. Prepaid customers will see a bigger leap, with their price cap rising by 70 708, from 30 1,309 to 2.0 2,017. How does the cost of living crisis affect people’s views on politics? ITV News Deputy Political Writer Anuska Asthana gives an answer The regulator was forced to raise the energy price ceiling to a record 97 1,971 for a typical household as gas prices soared to unprecedented levels. Various global factors led to increased demand for oil and gas – exacerbated by Covid’s impact – which meant suppliers had to pay more to buy fuel, a cost that now extends to customers. The charity National Energy Action (NEA) has warned that the cost of heating an average home has now doubled in 18 months, leaving 6.5 million households able to live in a warm, safe home across the UK. What goes up in price? Almost everything that ITV Consumer News editor Chris Choi says As Ofgem’s ceiling price bills rose by 54%, the Resolution Foundation’s think tank said the number of English households experiencing fuel stress – those who spend at least 10% of their total budget on energy bills – was doubled overnight from 2.5 to five million. Citizens Advice reported that about five million people will not be able to pay their energy bills from April, even because of the support the government has already announced. He warned that number would almost triple to one in four people in the UK – over 14 million – if the price cap were raised again in October, according to current forecasts. For expert analysis and information on the biggest stories, listen to our podcast to find out what you need to know Aldona Kowalczyk, a mother of two, says her electricity and gas bill has doubled – from £ 25 last April to £ 150 this month. She is grateful that she will still be able to afford food – although buying gluten-free products for her children is now more expensive – but they will have to cut out of what is considered “luxury”. This includes new clothes, which he says should be borrowed from friends if needed. “It will be special [hard] “If people are elderly or unmarried moms, they will be hit, we as a family will be hit,” he told ITV News. With her husband working longer hours and night shifts, she remains positive, especially as she is now looking to work full time rather than part time. “We have been restrained from buying new clothes” Concerns about the pressures facing households came as energy companies continued to struggle to allow customers to submit up-to-date cash metrics to avoid paying the higher price for energy used before April 1st. Customers reported problems logging in to supplier sites, including British Gas, EDF, E.On, SSE, So Energy and Octopus Energy as early as Thursday. Energy UK, the retailer for the industry, urged people not to worry if they were not able to submit a meter reading before Friday. He said: “Most vendors offer alternatives, such as submitting at a later date, and different methods of sending metrics, such as text, social media and email. “This shows the magnitude of the problem and how much people are worried about high prices, so we asked the government to intervene to provide further support to consumers.” Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer told ITV News that the government had given “no consolation” to people worried about their bills. “The government’s response was completely pathetic, no real response to that, no consolation to the people who are worried,” he said. “What we Labor Party has said is, look, the North Sea oil and gas companies have made huge profits beyond what they expected because of the high level of pricing around the world. “This unexpected tax should be used to deduct up to £ 600 from people’s accounts.” “Absolutely pathetic”: Keir Starmer targets government response to rising energy bills Higher energy prices are not the only way households will feel the pressure, with tax increases, municipal tax increases, cuts to state pandemic support raising business and petrol and diesel costs to near record highs . The cost of buying a meal in a pub, soft drink or hotel accommodation could become more expensive this month, as VAT levels in the hospitality sector rise to 20%, while the National Insurance tax increase will take effect on April 6. . Fuel prices have also hit record highs in recent weeks amid rising oil prices following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Mr Sunak cut fuel taxes by 5 percentage points in his spring statement last week, but retailers have been accused of failing to fully pass on savings. (PA Graphics) Credit: PA Graphics Citizens Advice Chief Executive Dame Clare Moriarty described the rise in energy prices as “potentially catastrophic for millions of people across the country.” “The support that has been announced so far by the government is simply not enough for those who will be most affected. “With the long-awaited price increases approaching now, many more people will be faced with the kind of shocking choices that our consultants already see very often on the front lines.” Police Secretary Keith Malthouse acknowledged that the situation would be “extremely difficult for millions of people across the country”, saying the chancellor had “moved to help”, citing rising living wages and rising national security thresholds. more needs to be done by the government to help the people struggling with rising prices. “The cost of living horizon is extremely difficult for millions of people across the country”: Kit Malthouse says chancellor studying the impact of the cost of living crisis Chancellor Rishi Sunak has previously pledged to “pull the trigger” on price increases, promising that all 28 million households in Britain will receive a 200 200 discount on their energy bills by October. The government will provide the cash for this, but it wants the money back, so it will increase the bills by £ 40 per year for the next five years from 2023 to recover them. Goldman Sachs has already warned that gas market prices are likely to remain at double normal levels by 2025.
