Charlie Weston: Why we are heading into a winter of energy costs distress

Charlie Weston: Why we are heading into a winter of energy costs distress

With the Government ruling out credits in next month’s Budget, households will feel the squeeze

Record numbers are in arrears on their gas bills. Photo: Alamy

There can be little doubt that we are facing into an energy affordability crisis this winter.

In what is a massive blow to households, more than one million of them will be affected after two more energy companies said this week they would be raising electricity prices. Combine that with sky-high energy arrears levels, a cost-of-living crisis that is sending meat prices shooting up, and the fact that the Government is adamant it is not paying energy credits in next month’s Budget and now we have all the ingredients for a winter of energy distress.