This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament

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Petition Hold an urgent inquiry into the energy crisis, and remove VAT on fuel

The Government should hold an urgent inquiry into the energy crisis, which should investigate why this has happened, how it can be resolved and find a way to ensure it does not happen again in the future. The inquiry should also look into how changes in wholesale prices are passed on to consumers.

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The Government should also abolish VAT on fuel, to help ensure people are not left without gas and electricity. Many people are worried sick how they are going to afford their fuel bills. Confusion and chaos caused by the collapse of many gas and electricity companies. People should not have to choose between heating their homes or eating, but sadly this is already happening for too many. Obviously when fuel prices increase so does food, clothing, travel etc, so there is a knock-on effect for consumers.

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MPs investigate the impact of rising energy prices on consumers

MPs on the House of Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee have launched an inquiry into energy pricing and the future of the energy market. The inquiry is looking at how policy and regulation have contributed to rising energy prices. The inquiry is also examining the effect of price rises on consumers, and the operation of the energy price cap.

Find out more about the Committee's inquiry: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/1698/energy-pricing-and-the-future-of-the-energy-market/news/159559/energy-pricing-and-the-future-of-the-energy-market-inquiry-launched/

The Committee is considering the following issues:

  • Regulation of the energy market

  • The effectiveness of Ofgem as a regulator

  • The effectiveness of the 'energy price cap'

  • The costs to consumers when energy suppliers fail

Why has the Committee launched this inquiry?

The Committee’s inquiry on the retail energy market follows unprecedented increases in wholesale energy prices since the summer and with a number of firms going out of business, including Bulb, Britain’s seventh-biggest supplier with 1.6 million households as customers.

Keep up to date on the Committee's inquiry

Updates on the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee's inquiry into energy pricing and the future of the energy market marine mammals, including upcoming evidence sessions, will be published here: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/1698/energy-pricing-and-the-future-of-the-energy-market/

You can also follow the committee on Twitter for updates on its work: https://twitter.com/CommonsBEIS

What is the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee?

The Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee is a cross-party group of MPs that look into the work of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and their associated public bodies.

Find out more about the committee on its website: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/365/business-energy-and-industrial-strategy-committee/

The Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee is a select committee. Find out how select committees work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_2RDuDs44c

Get involved in the work of the UK Parliament

Sign up to the Your UK Parliament newsletter for the latest information on how to get involved and make a difference: https://parliament.us16.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3ad7e4c57a864f07e4db008c4&id=26d0645ea9

MPs investigate energy pricing and the energy market

The MPs on the House of Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee have been investigating energy pricing and the energy market, including Government support to help people with their energy bills.

Report on energy pricing and the energy market

In July the Committee published a report on energy pricing and the energy market. In their report, MPs called on the Government to help the most exposed households by updating its energy bills support. They also called on the Government to consider a social tariff for the most vulnerable customers.

Evidence session on the cost of living crisis

Last month the Committee questioned business representatives, unions and consumer groups about climbing energy bills, inflation, interest rates, food and material costs, the impact these trends are having, and how they expect the crisis to develop.

Select Committee podcast

The Chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee, Darren Jones MP, is hosting the current series of the Committee Corridor podcast. This is a fortnightly podcast that brings together Members of Parliament from the different select committees in the House of Commons to interview experts and discuss the most pressing political, social and economic matters facing the UK today.

The current series is focusing on the cost of living, and in the first episode Darren spoke to the Chief Executive of the Resolution Foundation, and the MPs who Chair the Women and Equalities and Work and Pensions Committee.

What is the Home Affairs Committee?

The Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee is a cross-party group of backbench MPs that looks into the work of the Home Office and its associated public bodies.

The Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee is a select committee. Find out how select committees work.

Get involved in the work of the UK Parliament

Sign up to the Your UK Parliament newsletter for the latest information on how to get involved and make a difference.

MPs investigate energy pricing and the energy market

The MPs on the House of Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee have been investigating energy pricing and the energy market, including Government support to help people with their energy bills.

Report on energy pricing and the energy market

In July the Committee published a report on energy pricing and the energy market. In their report, MPs called on the Government to help the most exposed households by updating its energy bills support. They also called on the Government to consider a social tariff for the most vulnerable customers.

Evidence session on the cost of living crisis

Last month the Committee questioned business representatives, unions and consumer groups about climbing energy bills, inflation, interest rates, food and material costs, the impact these trends are having, and how they expect the crisis to develop.

Select Committee podcast

The Chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee, Darren Jones MP, is hosting the current series of the Committee Corridor podcast. This is a fortnightly podcast that brings together Members of Parliament from the different select committees in the House of Commons to interview experts and discuss the most pressing political, social and economic matters facing the UK today.

The current series is focusing on the cost of living, and in the first episode Darren spoke to the Chief Executive of the Resolution Foundation, and the MPs who Chair the Women and Equalities and Work and Pensions Committee.

What is the Home Affairs Committee?

The Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee is a cross-party group of backbench MPs that looks into the work of the Home Office and its associated public bodies.

The Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee is a select committee. Find out how select committees work.

Get involved in the work of the UK Parliament

Sign up to the Your UK Parliament newsletter for the latest information on how to get involved and make a difference.

MPs investigate fairness of energy bills for customers

A group of MPs called the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee are investigating the process of billing customers for their gas and electricity, and will be looking at whether the rules on charging for energy are fair for all.

Read the Committee's press notice announcing this work for more information.

The aims of the Committee's inquiry are to:

  • Determine whether the rules on billing are fair to all consumers
  • To understand what goes into the standing charge and whether that results in a fair contribution from all customers
  • To explore what restrictions there should be on energy companies utilising pre-payment tools
  • To determine how a social tariff might address inequalities

What happens next?

The Committee is conducting oral evidence sessions where it will hear from experts in the sector as well as representatives from the Government.

Their first evidence session will take place on Wednesday 8 May at 10am. You can watch the session live on [Parliamentlive.tv] [7].

An evidence session is when MPs ask key experts, such as Ministers, academics and/or campaigners, questions on a particular topic.

These experts are called "witnesses" and they help MPs to gain a deeper understanding of the issue.

The Committee will then consider all the evidence it has taken and publish a report of its findings with recommendations to the Government on any changes that might be needed.

For more information about the inquiry, including details of upcoming oral evidence sessions, visit the Committee's inquiry page.

What is the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee?

The Energy Security and Net Zero Committee scrutinises the policy, spending and administration of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and its public bodies, including Ofgem and the Committee on Climate Change.

The Energy Security and Net Zero Committee is a select committee.
- Find out how select committees work

Get involved in the work of the UK Parliament

Sign up to the Your UK Parliament newsletter for the latest information on how to get involved and make a difference.