Charities have warned that this summer's energy price rise will be 'devastating' for Scots, as record levels of energy debt are reported. Ofgem's price cap is set to rise by 13% from July 1, reaching £1,862 a year for the average household – an increase of £221.
Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) said the hike would be 'impossible for so many people to absorb', noting that its network had already seen record energy debt in the first quarter of the year, averaging over £2,800, and exceeding £3,200 for rural Scots. The rise is driven by the US-Israeli war with Iran.
CAS chief executive Derek Mitchell said: 'It's tempting to think high energy costs don't affect people in the summer. Yet, last summer, we provided over 2,000 emergency fuel vouchers across Scotland.' He urged Ofgem to deliver a debt relief scheme and introduce a social tariff for low-income households.
Craig Tobin of Advice Direct Scotland described the increase as 'one of the largest since the cap was introduced five years ago', adding that households will be paying over £700 more per year than before the energy crisis began. Scottish energy minister Stephen Gethins called for devolution of energy powers from Westminster, stating that 'in an energy-rich country like Scotland, nobody should be struggling to pay their bills'.
The price jump equates to a rise of £18 a month for the average dual-fuel household, with gas bills increasing by 24% and electricity by 5%. Early forecasts suggest the cap will rise further in October, increasing costs during winter. UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the rise was 'deeply unwelcome' and emphasised the need for clean homegrown power to avoid future price spikes.
