‘It doesn’t really cut it’: households react to Sunak’s energy bills support
As British households face a record 54% rise in energy billsfrom April, the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has announced a £9bn plan intended to mitigate the cost-of-living crisis facing the nation.
All households will receive a one-off £200 upfront discount on their energy bills this year, which, however, will be automatically recovered from people’s bills in £40 instalments over the five years from 2023.
Four-fifths of UK households will further qualify – on average – for a £150 rebate on council tax for homes in bands A to D, which will not be repayable. The number able to claim warm homes discount, which is availilbe for those receiving benefits, will be extended by a third to three million.
Here, four householders share their reaction to Sunak’s announcement.
John Lancaster, 72, from Burnley, feels partial relief about the news that he will benefit from the council tax rebate, which will go some way towards mitigating a huge rise in his energy bills.
He and his wife were recently quoted a 12-month fixed duelfuel tariff of an estimated £255.51 a month – a 145% increase in their current monthly direct debit payment of £104.06.
“We live in a band D property, so we will get the council tax rebate,” Lancaster said. “My wife, who is also retired, is disabled, so we are not going out a lot and heating our home is quite important. We will have to stop using some rooms and turn the heating off in them, and watch carefully what we spend on groceries.
“We hopefully will be able to absorb the new payments somehow by cutting down on shopping and meals out for example. I really do not know how people worse off than us will manage.”
The couple’s fixed dual-fuel contract with Octopus Energy is due to expire on 23 February. Lancaster tried to log
Read more on theguardian.com
