Ofgem price cap hikes show urgent need to fix broken energy system
Responding to the news that Ofgem will increase the price cap again, pushing household energy bills to their highest level in three years, the Scottish Greens have called for urgent action to fix a broken energy system.
Scottish Greens energy spokesperson, Kristopher Leask MSP, said:
"The system is broken, and people and the planet are paying the price. With another long, difficult winter ahead, households with budgets already stretched simply cannot afford to keep facing ever-increasing energy bills.
“People will rightly be looking at the eye-watering profits being made by oil and gas giants while their own bills continue to soar, and asking why this is allowed to go on. Our energy system should work for the people using it, not for the profits of fossil fuel companies.
“There are steps that can be taken now to ease the pressure on households, including scrapping the unfair standing charge and tackling the underlying costs of gas and electricity.
“But we also need to look beyond the immediate crisis. In the longer term, we must break the link between volatile oil and gas prices and the cost of electricity, while investing properly in clean, green renewable energy.
“Scotland has huge renewable energy potential, and we should be using it to deliver secure, affordable energy for households rather than leaving people exposed to global fossil fuel prices."
Kristopher added:
“There is also a serious credibility challenge for Labour. They were elected on a promise to cut people’s bills, yet households and families are still being hit with soaring costs and facing another increase this winter.
“People are fed up with being told to wait while their bills rise and energy companies continue to make eye-watering profits. Things cannot go on like this. We need real change to the way our energy system works, and that has to start with bringing bills down and making energy affordable for everyone.”