This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament
Petition Subsidise a 'basic' amount of electricity for households
The Government should fund a subsidised amount of electricity based on Ofgem’s estimate of the average household use and occupancy. This amount would be charged at a rate similar to 2020 prices. Extra usage after this would be at new higher prices.
More details
We cannot avoid the fact that energy has become expensive given world events. But we can choose policies that protect the most vulnerable in society. This proposal is cost neutral (the prices for heavy users will be a bit higher to compensate for the discounted power at the low end) but prevents the poor being proportionately harder hit.
This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months
Related activity
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.
- Read the Committee's report on energy pricing and the energy market
- Read a press release about the report
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.
- Find out more about the Committee's evidence session on the cost of living crisis
- Read a transcript of the evidence session
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.
- Find out more about the Committee
- Follow the Committee on Twitter for updates on its work.
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.