In an exclusive interview, a disabled woman living with chronic pain has condemned Shell's staggering £5.1 billion profit, announced amid the ongoing energy bill crisis. Holly Donovan, a fuel poverty campaigner from the Midlands, reveals she can only afford to switch on her central heating for a few hours at Christmas.
Shell's Windfall Amidst Hardship
Shell has become the latest oil and gas giant to report eye-watering profits, raking in nearly £5.1 billion in the first three months of this year, largely due to the Iran war. This figure is more than double the £2.4 billion it earned in the final quarter of 2025 and up from £4.1 billion a year ago. The surge came despite a 4% drop in oil and gas output compared to the previous quarter, attributed to damage at its Qatari gas plant from the US-Israeli conflict, with repairs expected to take about a year.
As Middle East wars heap financial burdens on ordinary working people, the impact is even more severe for the one-in-five households living in fuel poverty.
Living in Fuel Poverty: Holly's Story
Holly Donovan, who has chronic pain due to a fused spine held together by a metal rod, describes the daily reality of fuel poverty. Growing up, she recalls being shocked when visiting a friend's house that was properly warm. Her family had central heating but never used it, relying on donated newspapers and scavenged wood for an open fire. Lights were always turned off, appliances unplugged, and the fridge door opened only with a clear purpose.
Now 40, her home remains freezing in winter. She and her partner can only afford to turn on the heating for a few hours at Christmas. The constant cold has led to mould throughout her flat, with damp clothes and mildew behind the sofa. Her chronic pain intensifies in the cold, and she knows that consistent heating would alleviate her agony. In summer, the flat becomes unbearably hot, but using an electric fan is strictly rationed.
Last winter, they briefly used heating for a few hours each evening, but they are still paying off that bill. When Holly contacted British Gas about struggling to pay, she was offered only a payment plan and told she did not qualify for a social tariff. She notes that even with the boiler switched off, they pay a daily standing charge, which she calls a tax on the poor.
Anger at Fossil Fuel Giants
Holly expresses anger that oil and gas giants like Shell and BP rake in billions while ordinary people suffer. She points out that the 100 biggest fossil fuel companies earned $30 million every hour in the first month of the Iran war. She criticizes the government for allowing this through subsidies and low taxes, while cutting benefits for sick and disabled people. Stronger taxes on these profits could help those affected by floods, wildfires, and extreme weather.
A Call for Change
Holly believes the only way to stop profiteering is to transition off oil and gas to cheap renewables. She has worked with Greenpeace to lobby her council for a local solar farm. However, she emphasizes that the benefits of renewable energy must reach everyone. She has joined the Make Green Fair campaign, with over 10,000 people and 50 organizations, calling on the government to ensure fair distribution of renewable energy benefits. She suggests breaking the link between energy bills and gas costs, and improving home insulation and ventilation.
Affordable energy would be transformative for Holly, allowing her to live without pain and debt, upgrade disability aids, and gain freedom from the constant fear of using energy. Holly Donovan is a fuel poverty campaigner with Fuel Poverty Action.
