There are fears people may be "sleepwalking" into immensely difficult and deadly winter months after a protest outside energy supplier E.ON failed to attract significant numbers. The demonstration comes as energy regulator Ofgem announced price cap rise to £3,549 a year from October, an 80% increase.
According to Unite the union, four of the UK’s largest energy suppliers - Centrica, E.ON, EDF and Scottish Power - made £9.5 billion profits. This represented an 84% rise on pre-pandemic profits.
E.ON's profits alone, for the first six months of the year, stood at more than £3bn. As such a protest took place outside the company's city-based office block in Trinity House on Friday (August 26) at 5.30 pm.
READ MORE: Bus service saved from axe as almost 4,000 speak out against plan
Pots and pans were smashed together to create as much noise as possible. While no roads were blocked, passing vehicles honked their horns in support.
Speaking on behalf of Unite, Phil Jackson, who also represents the Bilborough ward for Labour-run Nottingham City Council, said: "It is such a big issue. People are still sleepwalking on it. It is going to hit them.
"A lot of the European companies are keeping the bills down but at the moment there is very little action taken here. It is hard at the moment, people are not yet feeling the full impacts of it but with the cap rising and with winter coming it is going to be a problem."
Numerous small, independent businesses which have been taking to the city by storm, have too been left worrying whether they will be "strong enough" to survive. And much-loved pubs, many of which assets to the communities across Nottinghamshire, have already been feeling the squeeze.
Mr Jackson added: "I do not know what is going to be put in place for smaller businesses. It might be a similar scheme to furlough.
"For the smaller ones, certainly here in Nottingham, it is going to be a big struggle."
Stewart Halforty, who helped put together the Save Nottingham Libraries campaign group, was also in attendance on the evening. He said: "We are one of the poorest cities in the country. How are people going to pay their bills?
"It is a quiet horror. I am going to be hit big-time. Now I am seriously considering cutting back.
"I would estimate everyone in a household earning less than £50,000 income per year, it is going to affect them. It is unprecedented."
Another protestor, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "People are going to die from this. All of these businesses are going to go out because they cannot afford to pay for their electric. We are screwed."
Responding, an E.ON spokesperson said: “Global gas prices continue to reach record levels and this has affected the costs suppliers pay and the bills we have to pass on to customers. We know these are difficult times and we’d urge any of our customers who are struggling to get in touch as there are ways we can help, such as through our E.ON Next Energy Fund.
"We will also be issuing the £400 payment as part of the Government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme. We closely monitor the level and type of support our customers need, which includes working with support agencies such as StepChange, Citizens Advice and Energy Advice Scotland and we have dedicated phone lines for customers at risk of being off supply or in other emergency situations..”
READ NEXT:
DWP: Universal Credit, PIP, ESA update ahead of face-to-face assessments
Two Cost of Living payments set to hit bank accounts in October
ITV This Morning viewers unhappy as Rishi Sunak quizzed on McDonald's rather than leadership contest
I went to New Basford wholesale goods store for the first time and spent less than £10
