A butcher from Conwy has urged the UK Government to act "immediately" to prevent businesses like his from collapsing under the weight of rising bills. His warning comes after his factory was quoted £782,000 for a year of energy bills - up 500% from last year's figure of £129,000.
Ieuan Edwards is the founder and director of Edwards of Conwy, a butchers which has expanded to provide products to major UK supermarkets. After responding to a Tweet by Edwina Currie in which the former MP bemoaned the use of the word "catastrophe" to describe the energy crisis, Mr Edwards appeared on Good Morning Britain where he and Currie exchanged some strong words.
Mr Edwards stressed that the current situation really is a catastrophe. Speaking to WalesOnline, he said: "Thankfully, as a business, we have a full order book and a strong balance sheet.
READ MORE: Established Cardiff landlord warns energy bills mean 'Armageddon' for pubs
"But that's not the case for thousands of businesses throughout the length and breadth of Britain, many of whom are just coming out of the pandemic; slowly and surely they're getting on their feet, and then this happens to them. The figures are incredulous.
"It's affecting every size of business and every single sector... We're hanging on in there hoping for the best."
Mr Edwards is hoping he can negotiate a better deal than the £782,000 figure quoted, but says his "heart goes out" to businesses who will really struggle in the coming months. He said: "A lot of family businesses actually live above their business premises.
"It's even worse for them, because they face losing their income, their business and their family home. The Government must act, and they must act immediately."
Energy prices are not a devolved matter, meaning the price of energy falls to Ofgem, the UK Government's regulator. The most recent announcement saw the price cap rise from £1,971 to £3,549 a year for households.
This cap doesn't apply to businesses and many are worried that the skyrocketing costs will hit them especially hard. Although the Welsh Government has exercised its powers to directly support consumers with a £200 winter fuel payment, Mr Edwards said the UK Government is the one that needs to act fast.
He said: "We all know the saying - that a government that governs least governs best - but that’s not the case in this instance. We need intervention.
"This is going to hit public services as well. I've had people contact me through our Twitter account to say their local swimming pool has had quotes of £1,000,000.
"Education, hospitals... it's nonsensical, what's happening at the moment. We're looking at up to 600% increases. There will be many businesses the length and breadth of Britain who will not be able to handle these increases. Absolutely.
"The Government needs to put a cap in place - not a moving target. We need to agree on a fixed price that the Government unfortunately has to pick up the bill for in borrowings and a windfall tax on utilities, otherwise it's going to be a catastrophe for the UK economy."
Mr Edwards said he was also worried for the state of businesses in Conwy specifically during the cost of living crisis. He said: "We're fortunate that we get great support from both locals and tourists alike but moving forward, people will think twice before going on holiday. If there's no money in the pocket, there's no money in the pocket."
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