Changeworks welcomes the UK Government’s announcement this week that it plans to weaken the link between gas and electricity prices.
This is a key step in the right direction as the current system which dictates the price of electricity prevents households from benefiting from the cheaper, secure cost of clean energy.
However, we urge the Government to also commit to further action to address the cost and security of energy for households in the UK.
The UK and Scottish Governments must now take decisive action on social tariffs, household support and increased/longer term advice funding to allow households to harness the benefits of affordable clean energy. This will secure future energy supply and lower energy costs for families.
Whilst this announcement is a welcome step, it doesn’t go far enough. The current energy crisis highlights once again the need for urgent action to address volatile energy costs that exacerbate the already unacceptably high levels of fuel poverty.
While we support the Government’s plans towards protecting UK households from volatile prices driven by imported oil and gas, alongside decoupling gas and electricity pricing, the UK and Scottish Governments should take other actions that will have a long-term benefit. These include a social tariff, support for households to install energy-saving measures, and better funding for advice services.
Without additional measures in place, the proposal to weaken the link between gas and electricity markets will leave most households still exposed to high energy bills and uncertainty during the ongoing energy crisis.
Our chief executive, Josiah Lockhart, recently published an open letter to all political parties in Scotland with more detail on the leadership needed to address these challenges.