Research by the Welsh Liberal Democrats has revealed the areas in Wales set to be hardest hit by the crippling energy price hike announced by Ofgem today.
This news comes as Ofgem have announced a 54% increase in
the energy price cap, with average bills reaching nearly £2,000.
Average energy bills per household are expected to rise by
£970 in some areas, according to analysis of ONS data by the party.
The worst hit local authority areas include Ceredigion
(£972), Gwynedd (£904), Carmarthenshire (£853) and Powys (£848).
Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds, who represents 5/6
of the worst hit areas through the Mid & West Wales Region in the Senedd,
has stated that the figures show the “absolute energy bill nightmare” being
faced by families across Wales while oil and gas firms are making record
profits.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats are calling for a windfall tax
on the super profits of gas and oil producers and traders to fund support for
vulnerable households struggling to pay their energy bills. The party’s
proposed cost of living rescue package would save struggling families an
estimated £1,000 a year. It would include further increasing and expanding the
Warm Homes Discount, scrapping the planned National Insurance tax hike and
ensuring low-income families can access cheaper broadband deals.
Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds said:
“People across Wales are facing an energy bill nightmare,
with some of the worst affected areas being Conservative held seats.
“But instead of taxing the record profits of oil and gas
companies to fund a package of support, Rishi Sunak is simply spreading the
pain for families over the coming years. These plans are playing Russian
roulette with taxpayers’ money, gambling that energy prices will fall instead
of investing in keeping people’s bills down.
“The Liberal Democrats’ cost of living rescue package
would wipe almost £1,000 off the bills of struggling families, funded through a
‘Robin Hood’ tax on the super profits of oil and gas companies. We would scrap
the Conservatives’ unfair tax hike, offer support to the most vulnerable and
insulate more homes to slash their
energy bills in the long term.
“Sadly, it seems many Welsh Conservative MPs are more
interested in protecting the large profits of global oil and gas companies
rather than providing support to families struggling to meet ends met up and
down the country.
"It is also an insult to take £150 of a family's
council tax while hiking their taxes by an average of £600, giving with one
hand while taking away more with the other.
“Nethertheless, the money that will come to the Welsh
Government via Barnett from today’s announcement on council tax rebates, needs
to be used by the Welsh Government to help people suffering rising costs in
Wales."
Region name | Local authority district name | Average cost of energy bills March 2021 | Average cost of energy bills in April 2022 | Increase to energy bills in April 2022 |
Mid & West Wales | Ceredigion | 1,092 | £2,064 | £972 |
Mid & West Wales // North Wales | Gwynedd | 1,016 | £1,920 | £904 |
Mid & West Wales | Carmarthenshire | 958 | £1,811 | £853 |
Mid & West Wales | Powys | 953 | £1,801 | £848 |
North Wales | Isle of Anglesey | 918 | £1,735 | £817 |
Mid & West Wales | Pembrokeshire | 896 | £1,693 | £797 |
North Wales | Denbighshire | 895 | £1,692 | £797 |
North Wales | Conwy | 841 | £1,589 | £748 |
South Wales East | Blaenau Gwent | 839 | £1,586 | £747 |
South Wales Central | Rhondda Cynon Taf | 831 | £1,571 | £740 |
North Wales | Flintshire | 806 | £1,523 | £717 |
South Wales West | Neath Port Talbot | 805 | £1,521 | £716 |
South Wales East | Monmouthshire | 804 | £1,520 | £716 |
South Wales East | Merthyr Tydfil | 782 | £1,478 | £696 |
South Wales East | Caerphilly | 772 | £1,459 | £687 |
South Wales West | Bridgend | 763 | £1,442 | £679 |
South Wales Central | Vale of Glamorgan | 750 | £1,418 | £668 |
South Wales West | Swansea | 749 | £1,416 | £667 |
North Wales | Wrexham | 738 | £1,395 | £657 |
South Wales East | Torfaen | 727 | £1,374 | £647 |
South Wales East | Newport | 682 | £1,289 | £607 |
South Wales Central | Cardiff | 677 | £1,280 | £603 |
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