BBC Breakfast viewers were left fuming when Ben Boulos interrupted the show to announce that the new energy price cap for gas and electricity will skyrocket by £111 from April.
This means the average annual bill will surge to £1,849 – a hefty 6.4% increase. Viewers took to social media to vent their frustration. “What happened to the shout from the govt we will get more money in people’s pockets – I am still waiting,” one viewer raged.
“Again, the people of the UK are being shafted. We have some of the highest energy prices in the world and it keeps increasing. What are the @labour Gov doing about it? Nothing. No one ever does and we just put up with it. @ofgem is not fit for purpose,” another fumed.
“It’s strange, the UK that was less reliant on Russian gas and oil somehow got bills 3 times higher than Germany and France when Russia invaded Ukraine. How long are the British people going to take the consortium of greed and incompetence. Enough is enough”.
One astute commenter suggested: “Deregulation was the aim of the Brexit game! Shred regulations so that companies are free to charge what they like to make insane profits! This will never end until the people end it. Stop paying these vultures….pay the minimum….they can’t cut you off if you’re paying! ” A fifth viewer sarcastically quipped: “Well done, Labour.”, reports Birmingham Live.
“Crazy Ed told us they were going to reduce bills by £300. They have zero idea what they are doing,” complete with applause emojis punctuating their stinging words.
Another individual shared their thoughts, saying: “The UKs energy and water regulators do appear to side with the private companies far too often over customers’ needs.
“In my opinion, those relationships need to change to protect customers’ affordability, not protect profits and dividends. Toothless regulation, in my opinion.”
The energy price cap for a typical household using electricity and gas, and paying by Direct Debit, is set to increase by 6.4% to £1,849 per year between 1 April and 30 June 2025. This represents a £111 average annual rise.
Based on typical household energy use, the price cap has been established. The average household is now paying £750 more per year for energy compared to winter 2020/21 – a staggering 77% increase, as reported by the End Fuel Poverty Coalition.
Furthermore, the cost per unit of gas will skyrocket by over 10%, resulting in gas costs doubling since winter 2020/21.
BBC Breakfast airs from 6am on BBC One and iPlayer