#BringDownBills

Put simply: it has been largely about gas, but recently, certain levies are adding costs to bills which we think could be moved elsewhere.

In Great Britain, we’re more reliant on gas than many other countries. We depend on it to heat around 85% of our homes – we also use it to generate around a quarter of our electricity. While it’s not the only source of electricity generation in the mix (in fact in 2024 wind was the biggest producer of electricity), it sets the price of electricity the majority of the time (unlike countries which use less). Gas is traded internationally, so the prices at which energy companies buy and sell it are affected by global events. Gas prices have come down from the peak of the energy crisis around 2022, but they’re still around 50% more than the pre-crisis average.

Recently, however, the energy bill is also seeing more and more costs added to it; these could include, for instance, the costs to modernise the electricity grid, or provide help for vulnerable households. While these costs are necessary, we’re urging the Government to carefully consider where each one should be added to bills, or whether it should be funded through other means, like general taxation. 

It’s likely a lot of people will still need support with their energy bills. Learn more about the extra help available for energy customers.

Energy’s impact is seen in almost every part of our daily lives. From flicking on a light switch, to keeping food fresh, to making sure Wi-Fi works, and all the way to powering the largest industries in the country. It’s essential that we have it when we need it and that it’s affordable. 

Over recent years, high prices for energy have meant that for households, more and more of them are falling into debt which has trebled in the last few years. For businesses, they face some of the highest prices for electricity anywhere in the world. This has to change.

In the long run, building as much British power as possible to stop our reliance on foreign fossil fuel markets. This is where the Government is right to focus on making this a priority. The sooner this happens, the sooner prices will start to stabilise. This will take time, however, and in the meantime the Government and industry have to work together with charities and other partners to ensure that policies can be put in place now to ensure households and businesses are supported. We have outlined our thoughts in our How to cut bills paper.