Charities have warned that a predicted 25 per cent surge in gas and electricity bills this winter will put the lives of thousands of pensioners at risk. The warning comes as global conflicts, including America and Israel’s war with Iran and Russia’s war with Ukraine, have sent shockwaves through global energy supply chains, forcing up prices.
A four per cent increase to the energy price cap took effect last week, and experts forecast a further crippling 25 per cent could be added in January.
Charities call for targeted support
Katherine Crawford, Age Scotland’s chief executive, said: “These predicted price rises are eye-watering and will be absolutely unbearable for the hundreds and thousands of older households in Scotland living in fuel poverty.
“The UK and Scottish Governments need to get serious about this, deliver more targeted financial support for low income households, produce a real plan to tackle pensioner fuel poverty and introduce a social tariff on energy bills.”
Veronica Gray, deputy CEO of abuse prevention charity Hourglass, said: “For older people already struggling to make ends meet, any further rise in energy bills this winter could have consequences that go far beyond financial hardship and force some older people into making impossible choices between heating their homes and meeting other basic needs.”
Scottish bills already higher
The UK has long had among the highest energy costs in Europe, and bills for Scots are routinely up to £150 higher than the price cap due to colder weather.
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “While ordinary workers are grappling with soaring bills, the big banks are raking it in. Taxing bank profits to cut bills is plain common sense.”
Citizens Advice Scotland Assistant Director Emma Jackson said: “It’s unconscionable to think people on the lowest incomes can somehow absorb another 25 per cent increase after years of high bills.”
Government responses
A UK government spokesperson said: “We’ve cut VAT on electricity to give households breathing space, on top of the £150 we removed from bills earlier this year, and are working to bring bills down for good.”
Scottish Energy Minister Stephen Gethins said: “The UK Government came to office promising to cut people’s bills by £300, yet bills are already more than £250 higher – and they are going to increase further as we head into winter.”
