UK: energy price cap jumps 54%
With the rise in prices, 15 million Britons may no longer be able to heat themselves properly.
(Illustrative image) AFP - OLI SCARFF
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
In the United Kingdom, April 1 is synonymous with a revision of the energy price caps.
And this year, the news is very bad because prices are rising by an average of 54%.
Some associations organize themselves to help families projected into fuel poverty, on the model of food banks.
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With our correspondent in London
,
Émeline Vin
The foundation of the energy bank foresees an increase of 3,000 pounds sterling on bills, or 3,500 euros more at the end of the year.
With the rise in prices, 15 million Britons may no longer be able to heat themselves properly.
Director of the Energy Banks Foundation, Matthew Cole already helps 400 families a month to pay the bills: “
3,000
pounds is 15 pounds a day!
For low-income households, this is huge.
»
►
To read: United Kingdom: inflation climbs to 6.2%, unheard of for 30 years
Badly insulated houses singled out
One of the reasons for this widespread precariousness: energy sieves: “
The real estate market is not terrible.
There are drafts in the houses and they are poorly insulated, explains Matthew Cole.
People consume more, but a lot of energy is lost.
Take the Nordic countries where it is very cold there, but where the houses are very well insulated.
The problem is that the UK has not invested in its housing stock.
»
Especially since the British tax authorities already deduct 8% of energy bills for this purpose: “
Electricity bills include a contribution to socio-environmental policies, such as thermal renovation programs or financial support for the most deprived families .
This means that the bills in the United Kingdom are already higher than elsewhere.
»
The director of the energy bank admits, however, that in a privatized market, the government has only a limited room for manoeuvre.
►
To listen: In the midst of a crisis, the British are hoping for aid to reduce energy bills
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