Energise Sussex Coast joins call for government to go further and faster on energy bills crisis

Local community benefit society Energise Sussex Coast has joined dozens of charities and civil society organsations, in signing an open letter to the Prime Minister, Chancellor and Secretary of State for Energy Security calling for urgent action to protect households from rising energy bills before this winter. Energy bills are forecast to rise by 18% in July and a further 4% in September and the letter warns that without further intervention 'millions of households will continue to suffer.'
The letter acknowledges steps already taken by the government – such as the November Budget decision to move the cost of the Renewables Obligation from bills to general taxation - but warns that these measures risk being 'wiped out before households feel them' unless ambition is increased.
Specifically, the letter calls for the government to:

• enhance financial support for households this winter, including by an improved Warm Home Discount and action on energy debt;

• complete the break between electricity prices and volatile gas markets;

• expand support for solar, heat pumps, insulation and electric vehicles, particularly for lower-income households; and

• commit to staying the course on clean power rather than new oil and gas extraction.

The letter points to growing public appetite for change, citing heat pump orders more than doubling in March compared with February, with solar installations up 80% and electric vehicle leases up 85%.
According to Survation polling commissioned by the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, majorities of voters across all main parties say that they either already have technology to reduce their energy use and lower their bills, or that rising prices following the conflict in Iran have made them more likely to want it. Labour voters lead on 67%, followed by Lib Dems (65%), Greens (61%), Reform (58%) and Conservatives (55%).

Energise Sussex Coast director Kate Meakin said: 'Energy bills are forecast to rise in both July and September. So without more decisive action now, the actions that the government has already taken risk being wiped out before households feel them. The answer is the one that the government has already identified: a clean, homegrown energy system with prices that we control – and the public is already moving in that direction. That's why we're calling on the government to urgently take the measures necessary – from debt cancellation to breaking the link between electricity prices and volatile gas markets - to make our energy cheaper, cleaner, fairer and more secure.'
Founded in 2012, local community benefit cooperative Energise Sussex Coast (ESC) works to tackle the climate crisis and energy injustice through community-owned renewable power and energy-saving schemes. It runs a free Energy Advice service to help local residents bring down the cost of their electricity, gas and water bills: 01424 390 062.
Residents of The Belmont - a block of 36 retirement flats in Bexhill – are now benefiting from significantly reduced energy costs and warmer homes following a major solar and insulation retrofit project, following a collaboration between ESC, E.ON, and The Belmont’s management.