Electrical industry reacts to Ofgem price cap rise

Electrical industry reacts to Ofgem price cap rise

In light of this morning's Ofgem announcement that the typical household energy bill is set to hit £3,549 a year from October, ECA and a coalition of industry bodies have reiterated their urgent ask for Government to rebalance levies on gas and electricity, with the potential to save 70 per cent of UK households up to £100 a year.

In an open letter sent to Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, backed by signatories including leading construction industry bodies BESA, BSRIA, FETA and SELECT (full list of signatories below), ECA is urging the next Prime Minister to shift the balance of levies from electricity to gas, thereby encouraging a switch to electricity.

Commenting on the Ofgem announcement, Lesley Rudd, Chief Executive of Electrical Safety First said: “With bills skyrocketing, we are expecting to see some households turn to plug-in heaters for short bursts of heat in single rooms as, for many, central heating becomes too costly. We urge the public to use them safely and to never leave portable heaters close to fabrics or switched on overnight.”

“Sky-high energy bills are one of the biggest factors in the ongoing cost-of-living crisis,” added ECA Director of Workforce and Public Affairs Andrew Eldred. “By changing the way different energy sources are levied, 70 per cent of households could immediately save up to £100 a year.

“With one small act, the next PM could throw a lifeline to millions of struggling families desperately worried by the prospect of ever-rising energy price caps.”

In an open letter sent to Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, backed by signatories including leading construction industry bodies BESA, BSRIA, FETA, MCS and SELECT, ECA is urging the next Prime Minister to shift the balance of levies from electricity to gas, thereby encouraging a switch to electricity.

The open letter marks the launch of ECA's new campaign, Make the Switch, to make Britain's energy bills fairer for households.

ECA’s full open letter to the Conservative leadership candidates can be downloaded here.

ECA's Make the Switch campaign logo can be downloaded here.

ECA advocates on behalf of 3,000 members and associates in the electrotechnical ad engineering services sector, articulating the contribution they make and championing a policy approach which reflects the critical role of electricity as the UK transitions towards a net zero economy by 2050.

The full list of signatories on ECA’s open letter to Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak is as follows:

Steve Bratt, Group CEO, Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA)
David Frise, Chief Executive, Building Engineering Services Association (BESA)
Julia Evans, Chief Executive, Building Services Research and Information Association (BSRIA)
Chris Yates, Chief Executive, Federation of Environmental Trade Associations (FETA)
Ian Rippin, CEO, Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS)
Alan Wilson, Managing Director, Electrical Contractors Association of Scotland (SELECT)