We welcome plans to lower energy bills but help is needed now

A new bill has been introduced in parliament which the government claims will make Britain a clean-energy superpower and help lower energy bills for good.

Here at Money Wellness, we welcome Labour’s plans to cut costs for hard-pressed households but, while we wait for their proposals to come to fruition, interim measures are needed now to help those struggling with energy debt.

What is the Great British Energy Bill?

The Great British Energy Bill will set in motion plans to establish a publicly owned clean-energy company. 

Great British Energy will produce clean energy from on-shore solar and wind farms.

Labour says rising energy prices have left us “exposed to fossil fuel markets controlled by dictators and rogue states”.

Energy secretary Ed Miliband says Britain “will never again” face an energy bills crisis. The answer, he told Radio 4, is to stop depending on fossil fuels.

Producing our own energy means Britain will have more control over the prices, which should be passed on to us through cheaper bills.

What we want to see happen NOW

A bill to bring down energy bills can only be a good thing for households buckling under the burden of a drawn-out cost-of-living crisis.

But it’s going to take time for billpayers to reap the rewards of the government’s clean energy plans and we need action now.

Sky-high energy arrears are trapping people in a cycle of debt. Over half (53%) of the people who call us are behind with their bills. This situation is only going to get worse as we head into winter.

We’re calling on the government to work with Ofgem to introduce a framework for suppliers so that all struggling customers are referred for free debt advice and a standardised range of repayment options are introduced, including debt forgiveness in certain cases.

What to do if you’ve fallen behind on your energy bills

If you’re in debt to your energy company, the first thing to do is speak to your supplier about any help they can offer, such as reduced payment plans or grants.

To prevent your financial situation getting any worse, it may be worth seeing if you can take steps to reduce the amount of gas and electricity you use: take advantage of financial help to insulate your home and follow these energy-saving tips.

It’s also probably a good idea to get free debt advice.

We can check you’re claiming all the benefits available to you, offer budgeting advice and talk you through the range of debt solutions available.

All of our advice is free and impartial. Some debt solutions are also free, for others there are fees.