At the start of this month, households across West Cumbria saw bills fall through the new energy price cap – saving the average family over £100. Alongside that, targeted support for heating oil users is now being rolled out locally, helping around 1,000 households.
But events in the Middle East continue to drive uncertainty in global energy markets: the second major fossil fuel price shock in less than five years. We cannot continue to be exposed to volatile international markets in this way. Short-term help must go hand in hand with long-term solutions. That’s why the Government has set out a major package of measures to strengthen Britain’s energy security and protect consumers.
The answer is to take back control of our energy system through clean, homegrown nuclear and renewable power. Not to roll back on these commitments.
That means accelerating investment in nuclear and renewables. It means speeding up grid connections and reforming planning rules so projects like Pioneer Park can be delivered faster and more affordably.
And it means more help for households to make the transition to cheaper, cleaner energy. That’s why we’re increasing the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant to £9,000 for homes using heating oil or LPG, helping more people switch to modern, lower-cost heating systems. And we’re upgrading local social housing and helping low-income households access plug-in solar panels, making the benefits of clean energy more accessible.
Crucially, the Government is also taking steps to fix how our energy market works. At the moment, electricity prices are still tied to the cost of gas, meaning families can end up paying more even when cheaper clean energy is available. Plans to move away from this system will help protect households from future spikes.
Alongside this, there are long-overdue reforms to the energy regulator, Ofgem. New powers will mean tougher enforcement, faster compensation, and the ability to hold energy companies properly to account.
It’s important to be clear about the alternative being put forward by others. Calls to abandon net zero and step back from clean energy investment would not solve the problems families face today. In fact, it would do the opposite – removing support for households to upgrade boilers or install renewables, leaving us more dependent on imported fossil fuels, and keeping us exposed to exactly the kind of global price shocks we are seeing now. That approach would simply lock us into the same cycle of rising bills and uncertainty. And devastate the nuclear revolution we’re seeing thanks to this government.
I know many families are still feeling the pressure. That’s why the Government has been clear: if global instability continues and prices remain high into the autumn, further support will be considered.
In the meantime, these announcements show a clear direction – lower bills now, stronger protections for consumers, and a long-term plan to deliver energy security for communities like ours.
Josh MacAlister MP 