With people across the country having noticed a sharp rise in their energy bills over the last few months, people in Nottingham have spoken of their concerns ahead of bills rising again in October. Many people have opened up and shared the stark realities of their financial situation - and some said their bills had tripled.
The current energy price cap in the UK stands at £1,971. It marked a £693 rise from the previous cap when this was increased in recent months. But Ofgem’s chief executive Jonathan Brearley said the cap was set to rise again, this time to £2,800 in October.
People in Nottingham, however, hope that something is done before that happens. The Government is expected to announce a fresh, multi-million-pound cost-of-living plan - with measures reported to potentially include increases in the warm homes discount, winter fuel allowance and a cut in council tax, while a VAT cut is said to be being mooted.
Read more: Warning in Nottingham suburb that 'everyone is struggling' as cost of living increases
Ahead of the measures being officially unveiled - with an announcement expected on Thursday (May 26), the day after the damning Sue Gray report into the Governnent 'partygate' scandal - in Clifton people spoke to Nottinghamshire Live about their worries over the cost of living. Aaron Spencer, a 32-year-old kitchen supervisor who lives in Clifton, said his energy bills have tripled. Aaron, who is with Octopus energy, has seen his bills rise in the past few months.
Aaron said: “I remember ringing the energy company thinking it was a mistake. Around the start of last year, my energy bill was around £60 to £70 now, it’s near enough £200.
“How is that okay? And it doesn’t matter what energy company you’re with, everyone is in the same boat.” Aaron, who has recently moved to Clifton to be closer to his workplace and ill mother, continued: “It’s just awful. My wife and I can afford it but many people can’t.
“We’re having to be careful with our finances now too because we have children. We want savings for them and, for us but when bills rise in October, we’ll probably have to sacrifice a lot of our personal savings for them.
“How can the government let so many people struggle? I’m lucky to have my wife’s income as well as mine, what about people who are doing it by themselves?”
Nottingham City Council has secured more than £3.5million to support city residents struggling with the rising cost of living. Pensioners and families are set to benefit as the council takes steps to help the most vulnerable households.
Chloe Lloyd, 24, is a full time mum on maternity leave from a sales assistant job. Chloe, who has lived in Clifton all her life, told Nottinghamshire Live her energy bills have soared.
She said: “I know people who are working full time but are struggling. My energy bill has pretty much tripled, they’re astronomical figures. It’s not fair. How can people who work around the clock still struggle?
“In an ideal world, everybody should be able to apply to these government funds but I get that that isn’t possible. My partner and I have also seen the rise in food too and with a new baby it’s like we need to get the supermarket value items or yellow sticker labels even more.
“I don’t even want to know what it’s going to be like in October in the months when we’re going to have no choice but to put the heating on. We’ll both have to work more hours and spend less time with our new baby girl.”
Hanna Louise, a teaching assistant who lives in Clifton spoke about how she’s had to budget more. The 32-year-old said: “You just worry about people in general. Vulnerable children, the elderly, and people's mental health.
“It isn’t okay. I know that there’s only so much the government can do and only so much councils can give out to the community but you don’t see the government putting pressure on these companies calling for them to do something.
“So many people in October will struggle and it’ll be cold. I’m not going to stand here and say I’m struggling but of course I’ve seen the rise in prices, my partner and I have had to take money from both of our savings and we’re lucky to have savings, some people don’t because they simply can’t afford to they need all the money they’ve got.”
Hanna continued and said that as a teacher, she fears for vulnerable children across the country. She said: “As a teacher, you just worry about the more vulnerable children and hope that their guardians are getting the appropriate support.
“It’s hard for a lot of families and with wages not going up, how are people expected to cope?”
Bryan Jones, 73, who is retired from Clifton, has said that those in government don’t know what it’s like to struggle. Bryon said: “I’ve just written to SSE as I’m in credit by over £200.
“I’ve tried to save consumption. I want them [the energy company] to reimburse me. They want to keep my money as if they’re not making enough already.”
Bryan continued, saying: “You’ve just got to save while you can. I’m cutting down on electricity and gas and trying not to let it worry me. Bryan, who has an allotment, said that to save money, he’s hoping to get some produce out of it. He said: “With the government, it’s just one thing after another, they're showing their true colours, they have no idea what it’s like to struggle.
“I saw a photo of Rishi Sunak walking his dog, it’s believed his trainers were worth £600.” Dave Harrison is a retired motorbike mechanic. Dave, who is 75 and lives in Clifton, hasn’t been too badly affected by the energy rise but said he may do so in October.
Dave said: “I suppose later on in the year, I’ll see changes and not for the better. I definitely understand why people are worried. The government needs to stop all the price rises, it’s all completely out of hand. I’ve noticed things going up but the things that I buy when food shopping are pretty much the same. I’m worried for people, especially people relying on benefits.”
Labour MP for Nottingham East, Nadia Whittome, has said: “This a crisis. Poverty is already at shocking levels and with this latest price rise, 7.8 million UK households will struggle to heat their homes over winter. Without action from the government, lives will be destroyed.
“But it doesn’t have to be this way. The French government has capped the energy price rise at just 4%. In Italy, a windfall tax on energy companies is being used to keep bills the same as in 2021. The UK government can and should step in.”
A Buisiness, Energy and Industrial Strategy spokesperson has said: "We absolutely recognise the pressures people are facing with the cost of living. This is why we have set out a £22bn package of support including a £150 council tax rebate this month, and a £200 energy bill discount in October to cut energy bills quickly for the majority of households.
“We are also expanding the eligibility for the Warm Home Discount, which will provide around 3 million low-income and vulnerable households across England and Wales with a £150 rebate on their energy bills every winter. The energy price cap also continues to insulate millions of households from even higher global gas prices.”
