Hi John,

 

Today Ofgem announced the new energy price cap will increase causing bills to rise to over £3500 a year, this means millions more people will have to choose between heating their homes or eating. This catastrophic rise in energy bills makes it very likely that you - or someone you know, will be pushed into fuel poverty along with half of households in the UK. [1][2]

 

The UK is facing the worst cost of living crisis in decades - the government must act right now. 

 

Can you sign the petition and join over 40 charity and campaign groups who are calling for urgent support to keep people warm this winter, and take action to reduce our bills in the long term? 

 

Our bills are so high for a few reasons; firstly, we have some of the worst insulated houses in Europe, meaning heat leaks from our homes making us use more energy to keep warm. By upgrading and insulating our homes, households could save hundreds on energy bills. [3][4] 

 

Secondly, we’re still addicted to gas, which is nine times more expensive than renewables. [5] By swapping boilers for heat pumps and rapidly expanding renewable energy we could stop our dependence on volatile fossil fuels. These measures won’t just save people money, they’d tackle the climate crisis too. 

 

Thirdly, energy companies are making bumper profits and paying out dividends to executives and shareholders instead of pricing the public fairly. [6]

 

But Liz Truss, who looks like she's in poll position to be the next PM, isn't offering any measures that'll actually fix the problem now and in the long term. Her plans will not only deepen the cost of living crisis, but the climate crisis too! [7] Without proper government action, households will still get huge bills in October, next winter, and the winter after that.

This is one of the biggest issues facing the UK right now. 

 

Every single day of inaction puts more people at risk - the government must make energy affordable, practical and renewable now - and in the future 

 

Thank you for everything you do,

Anthony and the Oil team. 

 

 

Notes: 

[1] Ofgem raises energy price cap by 80% to £3,549 from October 

[2] Energy bills: Half of UK households face fuel poverty, EDF warns

[3] British homes among the worst insulated in Europe

[4] How insulation can help save on your energy bills with UK households cutting £1.15bn in costs per year

[5] Analysis: Record-low price for UK offshore wind is four times cheaper than gas

[6] Why are energy companies making so much money? What’s driving the record profits as prices for consumers soar

[7] Cutting income tax would be an ‘incredibly inefficient’ way of dealing with the cost of living crisis

[8] Disabled people facing ‘impossible choices to survive’ in cost of living crisis

[9] Martin Lewis warns people on State Pension will lose one third of annual benefit to pay energy bills

[10] Cost of living: People of colour to be hit hardest by ‘unfathomable’ poverty

[11] Tory leadership candidates ‘ignoring winter fuel crisis’ urged to do more for struggling families

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