CRAIG WELCOMES PRIME MINISTER’S ANNOUNCEMENT OF TWO-YEAR ENERGY BILL CAP

Craig Williams has welcomed today’s (8th September) announcement by the Prime Minister that energy bills for a typical household will be capped at £2,500 per year for two years.

Businesses, charities and public sector organisations will be offered equivalent support for a six-month period, which will be reviewed every three months going forward. A new Government fund will also be created to support residents not covered by the cap, including those who use heating oil, as well as residents who have communal heating schemes.

Previously implemented cost of living measures will also remain, ensuring that every household will receive £400 off their energy bills, and a £650 cost of living payment will be made to every household on means-tested benefits. In addition, a £300 pensioner cost of living payment will be given to every pensioner household in receipt of the Winter Fuel Payment.

Welcoming the Prime Minister’s announcement, Craig Williams MP said:

“The last few years have brought unprecedented challenges for us all, with the current cost of living challenges being felt across the world. This has been fuelled by a series of global forces, chief amongst which being Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. As a result, residents and businesses across Montgomeryshire and the UK have been hit with a sharp rise in everyday prices and inflation.

“Following the Prime Minister’s appointment on Tuesday, I wrote immediately to her urging that further action is taken in tackling rising domestic and business energy bills, and I welcome today’s announcement by the Prime Minister that households will pay no more than £2,500 per year for their energy bills for two years from 1st October. This will also include the previously announced cost of living payments, ensuring all households will receive an extra £400 off their energy bills this winter, and a £650 payment for those who receive benefits.

“Having spoken to many residents and businesses over the last few months who are rightly extremely concerned about rising costs, I am sure these measures will come as a great relief to my constituents. The new cap will save a typical household £1,000 a year on their energy bills. Businesses, charities and public sector organisations will receive equivalent support for six months, where it will then be reviewed every three months.

“Given the rural geography of Montgomeryshire, I have also been lobbying for support to be given to properties powered by heating oil. I am therefore very pleased that a new Government fund will be created for residents who do not use mains energy, allowing them to access the equivalent support. This will also apply to residents in mobile home parks and those who have communal heating schemes.”