The current energy price guarantee which began in October last year, is currently £2,500 based on a household using a typical amount of gas and electricity. Initially this was meant to be in place for the next two years. However, the Government said it would in fact end in April 2023, with the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announcing that although the guarantee would continue, it would be increased by £500, up to £3000.
The letter, co-signed by numerous charities, asks the chancellor to intervene and “urgently consider” getting rid of the price hike, which Mr Lewis called a “disproportionate decision” which will adversely affect financially vulnerable people already feeling the very worst effects of the cost-of-living crisis.
The letter also calls for further action to support consumers, warning that "Without intervention, and soon, the charity National Energy Action predicts that the number of fuel poor households will rise drastically from an already shocking 6.7 million to 8.4 million from April - approaching double the 4.5 million households in this position in October 2021, that is a frightening statistic.”
"There is widespread support for this move, which the likes of Citizens Advice, Fair by Design, National Energy Action, and StepChange agree with.
Disability Rights UK has added its support to the campaign which now includes a money saving expert news article, which will continue to swell support for the campaign.
Dan White policy and campaigns officer at Disability Rights UK and one of the leads at the Disability Poverty Campaign Group said “There can be no greater amplifier of our collective anti-poverty work than Martin Lewis. This call to postpone the energy price rise is central to making sure those financially vulnerable people, many of whom are Disabled people, do not slip further into the mire of poverty. However, along with a hopeful postponement there must also be firm action on both a new and fair fixed social tariff for financially vulnerable people and additional targeted payment specifically for Disabled people who use more energy than most because of the essential equipment they need to use.”
The letter is available to read on the Money Saving Expert website.