Rebecca Long Bailey responds to the proposed energy price cap by Ofgem

Rebecca Long Bailey MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, responding to the proposed energy price cap by Ofgem, said:

“Today’s announced price cap is a start, but it is less than promised by the Prime Minister and it’s a scandal that Government delays have prevented the introduction of this much needed cap for so long.

“Theresa May promised 17 million households would be better off by up to £100. Today’s announcement is a smaller saving for fewer people. Despite promises from the Prime Minister, the Government has continued to sit on their hands while the Big Six have hiked prices. Tory dithering means that millions of customers will now be even worse off than when Theresa May first made her promise.

“Labour’s radical plans to overhaul our energy systems will benefit customers, the climate and keep the lights on. Only a Labour government can be relied upon to guarantee fair energy prices, and to ensure that in one of the richest countries in the world, families are not forced to choose between heating and eating.”

Ends

Notes to editors

• ·       Labour’s 2017 manifesto promised to: "Introduce an immediate emergency price cap to ensure that the average dual-fuel household energy bill remains below £1,000 per year, while we transition to a fairer system for bill payers."
• ·       Before the 2017 general election, Theresa May promised that 17m households would benefit by up to £100 from the cap:https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2017-39852119
• ·       After the election, the Government sat on their hands while energy demand soared during the Beast from the East:https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-gas-prices/beast-from-the-east-sends-british-energy-prices-skyward-idUKKCN1GC1J1
• ·       In this time SSE have increased rates by an average of £76 a year: https://news.sky.com/story/two-million-sse-customers-to-see-bills-rise-by-76-a-year-11389724
• ·       Ofgem has announced a price cap that would save customers about £75 a year, affecting 11 million households.