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Mon, 29 Jun 2026

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 Fears energy bill rise mean people 'surviving rather than living'

People in a Lancashire town say they "don't know where the money will come from" if bills go up.

* Energy bills in Lancashire are set to rise by £221 from July, a 13.5% increase on the previous quarter and 79% higher than before the energy crisis began in winter 2020/21.
* The highest levels of deprivation in the Rossendale Valley are in Bacup, where many pensioners are struggling to afford their rising bills.
* Community centre users are "surviving rather than living" due to high energy costs, according to Jules Pritchard, a class leader at the ABD Centre.
* Alison Grant, 61, from Weir, is "very anxious and very worried" about the price increases, saying she doesn't know where the money will come from.
* The conflict in Iran has contributed to higher wholesale costs, leading to higher energy bills for households on variable deals.
* Government officials say tackling the affordability crisis is their top priority, but critics argue more needs to be done to help those struggling with rising costs.