VARIOUS NATIONAL MEDIA: Energy price cap

Press/Media: Expert comment

Period26 Aug 2022

Media contributions

2

Media contributions

  • TitleEnergy price cap: Zahawi urges people to cut back on use as charity warns bills could ‘wipe out incomes’ – as it happened
    Media name/outletThe Guardian
    Media typeWeb
    Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
    Date26/08/22
    DescriptionTackling the energy crisis will require a nationwide mobilisation effort similar to the Covid vaccine rollout, says professor Stefan Bouzarovski, expert in energy poverty at the University of Manchester:

    The UK government must mobilise immediately, drawing inspiration from its European counterparts that have acted quickly and decisively.

    Funds for such measures can be drawn, in part, by further taxing those who stand to profit from high wholesale energy prices, with the windfall tax introduced in May unlikely to go far enough.

    “This support should not just be limited to fiscal policy, however. Policymakers must implement practical measures to help deal with the fallout of surging prices, such as collective energy service provision - or “heat banks” - for those unable to heat their homes.

    Parallel to this, we must accelerate the rollout of energy efficiency measures across the country, to help protect us from future shocks of the same nature.
    URLhttps://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2022/aug/26/energy-price-cap-ofgem-cost-of-living-royal-mail-strike-business-live?page=with:block-6308860c8f080ba02dce782e&filterKeyEvents=false
    PersonsStefan Bouzarovski
  • Title6m households to have savings wiped out after energy price cap surge
    Media name/outletThe Telegraph
    Media typeWeb
    Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
    Date26/08/22
    Description
    Reaction: Energy crisis needs national effort 'akin to vaccine rollout'

    Professor Stefan Bouzarovski, an expert in energy poverty at the University of Manchester, draws a parallel between the energy crisis and the pandemic.

    The latest increase to the energy price cap will have catastrophic implications not just for those already in fuel poverty, but for those categorised as ‘energy vulnerable’.

    As a result, combatting this will require a nationwide mobilisation effort akin to that of the Covid vaccine rollout.

    The UK government must mobilise immediately, drawing inspiration from its European counterparts that have acted quickly and decisively.

    Funds for such measures can be drawn, in part, by further taxing those who stand to profit from high wholesale energy prices, with the windfall tax introduced in May unlikely to go far enough.

    This support should not just be limited to fiscal policy, however. Policymakers must implement practical measures to help deal with the fallout of surging prices, such as collective energy service provision - or “heat banks” - for those unable to heat their homes.

    Parallel to this, we must accelerate the rollout of energy efficiency measures across the country, to help protect us from future shocks of the same nature.

    The problem is that, now Ofgem is reviewing the price cap quarterly, the cap will rise even higher in January.

    Whichever of Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak is Prime Minister on September 5, they will have to go much further with support for the most vulnerable because, with winter on its way, things are about to get far, far worse.

    URLhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/08/26/energy-price-cap-bills-ofgem-live-news-ftse-100-markets/
    PersonsStefan Bouzarovski

Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms

  • Energy

Keywords

  • energy prices
  • energy efficiency