New UK PM to Freeze Energy Bills at £2,500 A Year
On Thurs., UK PM Liz Truss announced a new "energy price guarantee" designed to reduce the cost of energy bills to less than half the figure currently forecast for the coming winter, down to £2.5K for the average household.
Facts
- On Thurs., UK PM Liz Truss announced a new "energy price guarantee" designed to reduce the cost of energy bills to less than half the figure currently forecast for the coming winter, down to £2.5K for the average household.
- The new average price cap will reportedly apply to private households until Oct. 2024, while the PM has also pledged to support businesses struggling with the cost of energy bills for up to six months and further targeted support for vulnerable firms in the months beyond.
- A universal handout of £400 was already due to be given to households this fall - this policy, in combination with the new price freeze, will effectively keep average annual energy prices at their current rate of £1,971.
- The price cap had been due to rise to £3,549 in Oct., with analysts having predicted it could breach £5,000 a year in the winter. "Extraordinary challenges call for extraordinary measures", Truss said as she told the House of Commons that households will save £1K a year under the policy.
- The intervention comes just two days after the PM took office, following her victory in the Tory leadership contest against former chancellor Rishi Sunak.
- The policy - which could cost as much as £100B - is expected to be funded through government borrowing. However, some have criticized the scheme, saying the cost will eventually fall on taxpayers.
Sources: Newsbud, Independent, Guardian, Telegraph, and CNBC.
Narratives
- Left narrative, as provided by Newsbud. All parts of the political spectrum agree that intervention is needed on energy bills - the real discussion is over who will pay for it. Truss's firm ideological commitment to a small state means she is leaving a bill, created in the first place by corporate greed, with the taxpayer. If the Labour party were in government, Kier Starmer would instate a windfall tax to effectively redistribute wealth and properly protect consumers.
- Right narrative, as provided by Spectator. It's insane that, at a time when the UK economy is trying to balance the budget and reduce the deficit after investments made during the COVID pandemic, Truss is contributing to the growing specter of recession with such huge spending plans. It would make far more sense to scrap the price cap and support vulnerable households - this freeze is a totally un-conservative intervention and a terrible economic policy.