Press comment – for immediate release
In response to the government’s announcement that customers will receive a £200 discount on their energy bills this year, with five years to repay the discount in instalments of £40 a year, Heidi Chow, Executive Director at Jubilee Debt Campaign said:
“This is not what support looks like. Dressing up a loan as a discount is an insult to households struggling to make ends meet. Far from providing support, this could worsen the household debt crisis. People who are already on the edge could face another massive increase in their bills next year while paying back the government at the same time.
Instead of coming up with half-baked ideas, the government should be providing genuine support to dampen the blow of rising energy prices.”
For more information contact Joe Cox on +44 (0) 779 6884487
Notes
Ofgem announces that the energy price cap will rise to £1,971 in April https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/price-cap-increase-ps693-april
Government announces £350 support package to help with rising energy costs https://www.gov.uk/government/news/millions-to-receive-350-boost-to-help-with-rising-energy-costs
Jubilee Debt Campaign is a UK charity working to end poverty caused by unjust debt through education, research and campaigning: http://staging.jubileedebt.org.uk/
Our latest report, A Fresh Start After Covid‑19: An outline strategy to tackle Britain’s household debt crisis is available at http://staging.jubileedebt.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/A-Fresh-Start-After-Covid19-web.pdf
Jubilee Debt Campaign’s Privacy Policy is available at http://staging.jubileedebt.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Privacy-policy.pdf