At the election, Labour pledged to cut energy bills by £300 but Ofgem has just announced a 6.4% increase in the energy price cap from 1 April 2025. This will increase average household energy bills by £111 annually, bringing it to £1,849.
This marks the third consecutive increase in the energy price cap under this government adding further financial pressure on millions of households. James has previously challenged the Energy Secretary over its failure to deliver on that pledge.
As the increase in the cap was announced, the government has also proposed expanding the Warm Home Discount scheme to include an additional 2.7 million households, bringing the total to 6.1 million eligible homes next winter.
However, while this the payment is worth £150 a year millions of households still face higher bills.
James is encouraging constituents facing difficulties with their energy bills to seek advice and support. The Citizens Advice Bureau offers guidance on managing energy costs and accessing available assistance schemes. For more information, you can visit their energy advice page at https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/ or contact the local Citizens Advice office.
Following the increase, James Wild MP said:
“Labour promised to cut energy bills by £300 but instead prices are going up. The government’s failure to deliver on its promises is leaving people to face higher bills with little real support.”
In his roles as Member of Parliament and Shadow Treasury Minister, James has consistently highlighted the importance of managing energy costs for constituents and strongly opposed the government's decision to withdraw Winter Fuel Payments from millions of pensioners.
