The day the Labour Party’s conference wraps up, energy firms will hike the public’s bills again. So, campaign group Fuel Poverty Action will be taking a stand. As delegates leave the event, it will rally outside the Wheel of Liverpool to tell them the government can’t leave citizens in the cold this winter.

Energy bills to soar as Labour Party conference comes to a close

On Wednesday 1 October, the energy price cap will rise 2% to £1,755 a year. Energy regulator Ofgem announced the increase in August for the period covering October to December. Notably, it said that:

For a typical household, their energy bills will increase by £2.93 a month or £35.14 per year. This is 2.2% per year higher than the price cap set for the same period last year, from 1 October to 31 December 2024 (£1,717).

However, this is misleading. Specifically, the figures represent what the ‘average’ household increase will be. In reality, it means that for many households, the rise will be a lot higher. This applies to those whose typical energy bill sits above this average – often because they need more gas and electricity. Because what really matters is how much the unit price – the price per kilowatt hour of energy – the cost is going up by.

Of course, this means chronically ill and disabled people who typically have greater energy needs for aids and equipment to help manage their conditions. Alongside this, people in less energy efficient housing will invariably pay more for their fuel costs as well. Naturally, many pensioners will also be among those with larger energy demands too.

The price cap rise on Wednesday means that the public will see energy companies raise their bills the day Labour will bring its conference to a close.

Time to call out another broken pledge – again

Of course, this is the same Labour Party led by now-prime minister Keir Starmer who promised pre-election that a Labour government would “freeze energy bills” (not the public). However, the reality has been repeated energy price cap rises like this one.

In August, Ofgem tried to spin it. In its press release over the announcement, it said:

compared to the start of 2023, this is £625 (26.3%) lower than when the energy crisis was at its peak.

However, the Fuel Poverty Coalition has pointed out that the rise actually means average bills will actually be £713 (68.43%) higher than pre-energy crisis levels of winter 2020/21.

It also highlighted how the bill hike will therefore hit the 12 million households already in fuel poverty hardest.

Given all this, Fuel Poverty Action is calling for people to join it outside Labour’s conference on the closing day. The group will be present from 9.30am with banners outside the Wheel of Liverpool. It will kick off its demonstration at 12pm, as delegates start to filter out the conference building.

It’s also pitching up outside the site at 4pm on 30 September to to flyer and chant as MPs pass by.

Fuel poverty is a political choice

Last year, the group rallied outside Labour’s conference demanding a U-turn on the winter fuel payment cuts.

After Labour was forced to U-turn, Fuel Poverty Action says it is:

going back to ask what about the rest of us?

It is demanding that the government make ‘Energy For All’ by:

guaranteeing everyone’s essential needs like heating, lighting, washing and cooking.

And crucially, it has argued that:

This government has the power to deliver it. Nothing is out of their hands, fuel poverty is a political choice. Ultra-cheap energy is already being generated on our doorstep without the benefits being passed onto us.

The group has laid out a manifesto on this, and is asking members of the public to email their MPs about the real solutions on offer. You can write to your MP using Fuel Poverty Actions email tool here.

It declared that it “won’t accept high energy bills as the new normal” – and needs as many people as possible to join it next Wednesday in making it known.

Featured image via the Canary

By Hannah Sharland

From Canary via this RSS feed