Huge protest planned as Unite warns fuel price cap rise could plunge millions into poverty

This week’s Ofgem price cap increase will see energy prices rise by an average of 10 per cent which it is feared will plunge millions into fuel poverty and hardship. It also comes as the governments makes cuts to the Winter Fuel Allowance meaning only those most in need will receive an additional payment.

Tomorow, members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, alongside other community organisations, will hold a rally at Guildhall Square in Portsmouth at midday as part of a Unite4Energy for All campaign to urge government to end fuel poverty through the introduction of a free allowance of energy to every household to meet basic needs.

The protests are also calling for the public ownership of energy distribution networks, domestic power suppliers and the North Sea’s reserves of oil and gas, to bring an end to what it said is ‘flagrant profiteering’.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Callous utility corporations are blighting the lives of millions. Every household must be guaranteed enough energy to cover essential needs. No one should be forced to choose between heating or eating.

“Last year alone, private firms reported profits of £45 billion from our country’s domestic energy system. If that money had been kept in the hands of the hardworking public, it could have been used to save each household almost £2,000 on their energy bills.”

Unite’s in-depth report into the UK’s energy system Unite Investigates “Renationalising Energy- costs and savings revealed that private energy companies had made a profit of £45 billion and if returned to consumers would reduce bills by £1,800.

It said that twenty energy companies have made a staggering £457 billion in profits since the start of the energy crisis with £61 billion being posted in profits this year alone. Ofgem is not protecting consumers from rampant profiteering. As part of the October price hike the regulator has indicated that suppliers will be able to make an additional 11 per cent in profits on every standard variable tariff which works out as £1.2 billion in additional profit

Unit added that bills are 65 per cent higher than in 2020 and over 6.5 million people live in fuel poverty.

Unite Community activist, Judy White said: “The tragedy in this country, the fifth richest in the world, is that people are having to choose between eating and heating.

“The cut to the Winter Fuel Allowance is appalling and the consequences will be catastrophic. We believe that with decisive government action all deaths from cold homes, and fuel poverty can be avoided.”