Thu, 04 Dec 2025

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 Pensioners see energy bills 'quadruple overnight'

Residents in two tower blocks see a huge rise in their energy bills that were previously subsidised.
Pensioners living in two tower blocks in Bloxwich, Walsall are facing significant increases in their heating and hot water bills. Woodall House residents saw a 345% increase from 4p to 13.75p per kWh, while Hamilton House residents experienced an even larger jump of 343% from 4p to 17.67p per kWh. The landlord Walsall Housing Group (WHG) claims it can no longer afford to subsidize "low rates" and has increased prices accordingly. According to energy price comparison website Uswitch, the average cost of gas in the UK is 6.29p per kWh, while electricity costs 26.35p per kWh. Residents are speaking out against the increases, with some calling them "astronomical" and others feeling like they're being treated as "second class citizens". WHG claims that the average user is still paying less than the national average for hot water and heating, but residents disagree. Councillor Mark Statham has criticized WHG for the price discrepancy between the two blocks, suggesting it may be due to how much profit each block generates. The situation has been further complicated by a recent heat outage in Hamilton House that left residents without heating for 16 hours over the weekend. Residents are calling on WHG to revisit the prices and find a more sustainable solution.
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