Comment on new Energy Secretary

Simon Francis, Coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition comments:

“The new Energy Secretary’s inbox is already groaning under the weight of vital decisions which need to be made to reform Britain’s broken energy system.

“Energy bills remain at record levels with every unit of energy costing double what it did in winter 2020/21, with daily standing charges also increasing and customers in record levels of energy debt.

“As well as securing financial support to help people stay warm this winter, the new ministerial team will need to amend the Energy Bill to ban the forced transfer of households onto prepayment meters and improve the energy efficiency of rented properties.

“The Secretary of State also needs to speed up reforms to the electricity market to ensure customers quickly enjoy the advantages of more affordable renewable energy, and so that their electricity rates are no longer subject to the unpredictable cost fluctuations of fossil fuels.

“There is also the opportunity for ministers to turn the current crisis into an opportunity to engage households in a large-scale retrofitting programme. They must also look at addressing UK energy security and independence by weaning the UK off its dependence on oil and gas and ending subsidies for fossil fuels, using this money to support a fair transition onto cleaner heat.”