GB News viewers say they are worried about paying their energy bills after Ofgem announced an 80 percent price cap rise from October.
Ofgem confirmed an 80.06 percent rise in the energy price cap for around 24 million households in England, Scotland and Wales, sending the average household’s yearly bill from £1,971 to £3,549.
The cap will come into effect on October 1, but Ofgem warned that some suppliers could start to increase direct debits before then to spread costs.
It will remain in place until December 31, when it will be adjusted again, with latest forecasts warning bills could surge again to around £5,400 in January and around £7,000 in April.
Ofgem confirmed an 80.06 percent rise in the energy price cap from October
Yui Mok
And GB News viewers have said they’re concerned about paying their energy bills following the price rise.
GB News published a poll on Twitter today, with the question: “As Ofgem announce the energy price cap will rise by 80 percent we want to hear from you - Are you worried about paying your energy bills?”
Of the 2,432 respondents, 82 percent voted "yes" while just 18 percent voted "no".
It comes after a charity which supports the vulnerable wanted that families are facing one of the “bleakest Christmases” for years.
Rossanna Trudgian, head of campaigns and public affairs at Action for Children, said in a statement: “Today’s announcement, and warnings of even worse rises to come next year, makes it clear that the country is facing a national emergency.
"The families we support are already under enormous pressure and are now set to face a relentless wave of energy price hikes and inflation all while coping with the colder weather.
GB News viewers said they were worried about paying their energy bills
GB News
“We are seeing more and more frightened families who are reaching crisis point. Some parents are coming to us in tears, terrified about how they are going to feed their children, with some missing rent payments so their child can have a meal – one family has even resorted to taking seats out of their car to save on fuel.
"Many of these families have already cut back to the bone and have nowhere left to cut.”
“They are facing one of the bleakest Christmases in recent years. The next prime minister must provide emergency relief to struggling parents by committing to further targeted support for low-income families through the social security system. Families with children also face higher costs, so it is vital that any financial support takes into account family size and need.”
While Nicola Sturgeon added: “This is simply unaffordable for millions. It cannot be allowed to go ahead.
“This rise must be cancelled, with the UK gov and energy companies then agreeing a package to fund the cost of a freeze over a longer period, coupled with fundamental reform of the energy market.”
But Boris Johnson has said that eventually energy bills will come down as Vladimir Putin’s ability to “exercise leverage over us and the rest of the world will diminish”.
The Prime Minister told broadcasters during a visit to South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre in Surrey: “I think that we will do everything we can to help.
“We want to make sure that we get people through the next few months, and we can, and we will because we took the right steps. We have a big, big package of help and support.
“But the message I want to get over to people is that I’m afraid that there’s a global spike in energy costs driven by Putin’s aggression in Ukraine.
“Putin’s position, Putin’s ability to blackmail, to exercise leverage over us and over the rest of the world will diminish week by week, month by month, and we will get through this and in the end, we will be in a much better position.
“The other side will have more of our own UK energy to rely on, and the bills will eventually come down.”