COST OF LIVING CRISIS: Energy price cap increase 'horrifying' for household budgets and should not go ahead, says Citizens Advice Scotland Chief Executive Derek Mitchell
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The increase in the energy price cap has been described as 'horrifying' by the boss of a leading charity.
Citizens Advice Scotland Chief Executive Derek Mitchell was responding to this morning's announcement by energy regulator that the energy price cap is to increase to £3549 per year from October
"This increase should not go ahead," he said.
"It is absolutely horrifying for people who are hanging on by a thread financially.
"CABs are on the frontline of the cost of living crisis, and what they are seeing all across the country is that people literally cannot afford another big increase in bills.
"The frightening truth is that people face the very real prospect of freezing or starving this winter without help.
"We already see a link between demand for energy advice and food insecurity advice, demand for both is rising – even before the weather turns cold.
"We need to see urgent and radical action from policy makers. This crisis is on the scale of the pandemic and it needs a similar level of response.
"That means no increase to the price cap, additional targeted support for the most vulnerable and support for advice services like CABs."
The announnced price increase will be a particularly devastating blow to households in the Highlands where fuel poverty rates are already among the worst in Scotland.
The region also pays more per unit for energy than other parts of the UK due to unfair transmission charges despite the area producing much of the UK’s onshore renewable energy.
