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Sat, 22 Aug 2026

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 Struggling households need more help with bills, energy industry says

Industry body Energy UK says the current support for households most in need does not go far enough.
Energy UK, the trade association representing energy companies in the UK, is calling on the government to provide more help to households struggling with high energy bills. The body says that while energy companies are doing their best to assist customers, the current system is failing to provide adequate support. The energy price cap for October and beyond will be announced by Ofgem on Wednesday and is expected to reach a three-year high. Energy consultancy Cornwall Insight predicts that the cap will increase by 4% when it is announced, which would apply to household bills during the first half of the coming winter. Energy UK says that millions of households are struggling with unaffordable energy bills, and a new "social discount" scheme is needed to provide more targeted support. The body suggests combining information about customers' income, health, and energy consumption to offer adjustable discounts. The current Warm Home Discount scheme reaches 6 million customers, but Energy UK says that another 2.5 million households need help due to medical conditions or draughty homes. The proposed new scheme would cost £1.9bn, nearly double the current scheme's budget, but could offer up to £450 in support to some households. The government is being asked to allow energy companies and charities to design a more effective support system, which could be funded through a combination of taxpayer money and bills.