3rd February, London - Save the Children has warned that many families will struggle to stay afloat in the months ahead, following Ofgem’s announcement that the energy price cap will rise by £693 (54%) to £1,971 from April.

In response, the government has announced a package of measures to mitigate the impact on consumers, including a rebate scheme that will spread the cost over a longer period and a non-repayable council tax rebate.

Commenting on the announcements, Dan Paskins, Director of UK Impact at Save the Children, said:

“The measures announced by the Chancellor today are too little, too late. 

“A 54% increase in energy bills is a terrifying prospect for households on low incomes. Millions of parents will be lying awake tonight trying to figure out how to keep their families afloat in the months ahead. And the steps announced by the UK government today won’t ease those fears. 

“This investment isn’t anywhere near enough to close the gap in household budgets, it deliberately hasn’t been targeted at the poorest households, and it will come too late for many who are cold and hungry right now. 

“To really tackle the cost-of-living crisis we need more than eleventh-hour firefighting measures. It’s time for sustained investment in the social security system to lift children out of poverty and insulate families from rising costs.” 

ENDS

For further enquiries please contact:

media@savethechildren.org.uk / +447831 650409