A North East pensioner has said he is bracing for a “tough winter” despite Sir Keir Starmer vowing to cut bills by up to £300.
For many pensioners, including 69-year-old Billy Pounder from Stanley, County Durham, the news that the energy price cap is set to increase by two per cent is spelling more financial strain and difficult choices to make.
Mr Pounder told the People’s Channel: “I’ll be the same as everyone else, I’ll try and budget and not spend as much on other things.”
The ex-miner added: “They give in one hand, take from the other.”
The change, confirmed by the energy regulator Ofgem, means that an average household will now pay £1,755 per year.
Mr Pounder, who relies on his state pension and uses a key meter, says the increase leaves him no choice other than to cut back on essential lifestyle needs.
“I’ll have to cut back on some,” he said. “I still have my little heater, I’ll be using that and going to bed early to keep warm, it gets really cold up here.”
The 69-year-old has already changed his daily habits to save on energy. “With showers, it’s on and out as quick as I can,” he said.
Pensioner Billy Pounder expressed his regret in voting for Labour in this year’s general election | GB News / PA“If I cook, I make food for a couple of days, like a Chilli, so I don’t have to cook every day.”
Letters from Mr Pounder’s energy supplier have become a source of stress for the 69-year-old.
“I’m on key meters and they send me letters all the time saying I’m not topping up enough,” he explained. “They’re sending me two letters a week, which is stressing me out.”
While the Labour Government insists support schemes are available, Mr Pounder believes pensioners are being left behind.
“They don’t realize what it’s like to struggle,” he said. “It’s anything for anyone else; there’s nothing for the British.”
The Winter Fuel Payment can help towards energy bills in the winter | PAAsked what could make a difference, he said: “They should look after pensioners more and give us a heating allowance. I’ve worked all my life. Migrants don’t pay in hotels, but we must pay. All I do is sit in the house as I can’t get about, so I use more gas and electric.”
On politics, he voiced regret over his vote. “I voted for him, but I wish I never,” he said of Starmer’s Labour. “He’s not doing his job properly, so why’s he still working.”
Ofgem says shopping around for a fixed tariff has the potential to save some consumers more than £200 compared to the upcoming price cap level.
Changing payment methods from standard credit to Direct Debit can also help reduce costs.
Former miner Billy Pounder told GB News of the struggle he faces without the Winter Fuel Payment |
GB NEWS
Eight million customers currently pay by standard credit but could be making savings of £135.60 with one simple switch.
In response, Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Claire Coutinho, said: “Not only have Ed Miliband and Labour lied to pensioners like Billy about cutting their energy bills by £300, but one of their first acts in Government was to cruelly rip away their Winter Fuel Payment from millions of pensioners in poverty.”
Coutinho fumed: “This is the human impact of what happens when politicians put their obsession with Net Zero above the need for Britian to have cheap, reliable energy. Cheap energy has to come first.”
Reform UK deputy leader, Richard Tice, also told the People’s Channel: “Labour’s election pledge to reduce household energy bills by £300 is in tatters.
“Their fixation on net zero and aversion to oil and gas means that British households are paying 12 per cent more than when Labour entered Government. That’s an extra £200 a year.”
Household bills are likely to go up in autumn | PATice added: “Only Reform UK will scrap the disastrous net zero targets and bring down household bills.”
Earlier this year, Ofgem gave provisional approval for £24billion of investment to upgrade the system and boost capacity, reducing the need for these costs in the long term.
Responding to Ofgem’s energy price cap announcement, a Labour Party spokesman said: “Energy bills soared under the Conservatives because they tied our country to the fossil fuel rollercoaster and working people are still paying the price.
“That’s why Nigel Farage’s unpatriotic war on clean energy would be a total disaster for families, businesses and our economy.
“This Labour Government’s Plan for Change is protecting consumers with three million more families getting £150 off their bills through the Warm Home Discount, a total of six million in all.”
