Politicians in Caerphilly County Borough have again voiced their concerns at rising energy costs.
On Friday, British Gas announced an 18% increase in gas and a 16% increase in electricity. This follows a 19% hike in gas prices and a 10% hike in electricity by Scottish Power last month.
The price rise by British Gas will see the average dual fuel bill rise by £190 a year to £1,219.
Islwyn’s Labour MP Chris Evans has said energy price rises should b referred to the Competition Commission.
He said: “Once again energy companies are hiking up their prices at the expense of vulnerable consumers.
“This is the second time in a month that the vulnerable people in Islwyn have been hit by such obscene price rises while the government sits back and does nothing.
“It is time that the Competition Commission put a stop to these maverick increases in gas and electricity bills.”
Plaid Cymru AM Lindsay Whittle, who called energy company bosses “gangsters in suits” last month, said: “Just a few short months after British Gas’ parent company announced massive profits, they have shown contempt for their customers with another huge price hike.
“The big home energy companies are holding the public to ransom. People are able to switch suppliers – but all of those companies are secure in the knowledge that they can keep hiking up their prices and there is nothing people can do about it.”
Mr Whittle, the regional AM for South Wales East, has recently backed a fuel poverty campaign to fight against price rises.
He added: “I was pleased to meet with members of The Fuel Poverty Coalition Cymru and support their campaign an end to fuel poverty. No-one should have to live in a cold home in 21st Century Wales.”
Lindsay Whittle and Chris Evans are absolutely right in speaking out against the most recent rises. The problem originates more than 40 years ago. In those days the area now covered by this borough was self sufficient in gas; coal gas manufactured locally.
Because the cost of North Sea gas was lower the governments decided in the 1960's to convert to this fuel. The supply was always going to be finite, short term in fact, and this was made far worse when Thatcher backed the power companies to produce electricity using natural gas, this was done for no other reason than to take away the market for coal.
Now that we are a net importer of gas it is time that we looked at the way we heat our homes and produce electricity. Natural gas under the control of foreign powers is not the answer. We once again need local energy supplies, probably made up of a mix of coal, hydro, wood tidal, and wind. Some wouild add nuclear, but my opinion is that the waste and security risk outway any benefit currently.
I look forward to hearing a politician being willing to confront the energy problem. Criticising the power companies for increasing the cost of domestic gas is right and gains votes. What it will not do is reduce our bills in the long term. Rising energy costs? 'You ain't seen nothing yet.'