A leading Newcastle charity has called for the Government to reconsider its plans to raise the Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) by £500 for the average household in April, amid fears that more families will be plunged into poverty.
Citizen's Advice Newcastle estimates that the number of households unable to afford their energy bills will double, from one in 10 people to one in five when the Government's support to keep average household energy bills at £2500 a year rises to £3,000 a year, leaving struggling families with an extra £500 to find to keep their homes warm.
The news comes as Ofgem today announced its energy price cap would be set at £3,280 from April 1, but although customers will pay less than that under the EPG, Citizens Advice Newcastle has called on the Government not to allow bills to rise further in April, and to keep the energy price guarantee at £2,500 for the average household.
