End Fuel Poverty Coalition, Author at End Fuel Poverty Coalition

British Gas fined £20m over forced prepayment meter scandal

Ofgem has closed its three-year investigation into British Gas over the forced installation of prepayment meters, concluding that the company breached licence conditions designed to protect vulnerable customers.

The regulator found that British Gas failed to meet the required standards when installing meters without customer consent, and that failings had been flagged to management through an external review in 2018 and an internal audit in 2021. Ofgem concluded that the remedial actions taken in response were inadequate.

As part of the settlement, British Gas has agreed to pay £20 million into Ofgem’s Voluntary Redress Fund, write off up to £70 million of energy debt for vulnerable customers, continue a £22.4 million voluntary support package for prepayment meter customers launched in 2023, and pay additional compensation to customers affected between 2018 and 2021.

The settlement sits alongside a separate Market Compliance Review in which eight other suppliers paid a combined £73.6 million in compensation, debt write-off and hardship payments relating to the same period. Two investigations remain ongoing.

Ofgem advises that customers who are due compensation will be contacted by British Gas and do not need to take any action. Compensation will be credited or paid directly to customers.

Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, commented:

“British Gas has finally been held to account for the forced prepayment meters scandal.

“The results of the Ofgem investigation are truly shocking. They have confirmed that British Gas knew about these failings as far back as 2018, was warned again in 2021, and still did not take adequate action.

“That means the firm knowingly forced prepayment meters onto customers, potentially including those with disabilities and families with young children.

“While the £20 million fine, combined with up to £70 million in debt write-offs, is a significant outcome to the investigation, it should not be mistaken for the end of this story.

“Households in energy debt are not there through choice. They are struggling because of five years of sky-high energy costs and an energy industry that has generated extraordinary profits while households suffer.

“We know that courts are still using batch processing to approve warrants for forced entry. We know customers are not given the ability to properly defend themselves during this process.

“The forthcoming Energy Independence Bill must include provisions to end the forced installation of prepayment meters and fundamentally reform the warrant process. This scandal must never happen again.”

Frazer Scott, Chief Executive of Energy Action Scotland, commented:

“It is clear that vulnerable people endured unacceptable practices that put them at risk.

“The scale of this is staggering and should waken the industry and regulator to the many warnings from the everyday experiences of the charity sector.

“Lessons must be learned not just fines determined through expensive investigations. That this investigation took over three years offers little comfort to those most affected by poor industry practice.”

Energy regulation expert Richard Winstone, commented:

“The cost of the temporary ban on prepayment meters was estimated at around £750m – this was paid for by consumers as an additional debt related allowance on the price cap. The cost of a three-year investigation, including the cost of hiring PwC, is also borne by consumers. British Gas being hit with a £20m fine is barely a slap on the wrist.”

Jonathan Bean from Fuel Poverty Action added:

“It’s taken Ofgem three years to admit that energy firms can’t be trusted to protect vulnerable customers from cruel and dangerous prepayment meters. The trauma of having your home invaded, then the ongoing threat of being instantly cut off from electricity and gas when you are struggling.

“It’s disgraceful that British Gas may now get a green light to restart, especially given the worrying evidence that the new system is failing too. Government needs to act urgently to ban forced prepayment meters, and protect people not profits.”

Civil society urges Government to go further and faster on energy bills crisis

More than 40 charities and civil society organisations have written jointly to the Prime Minister, Chancellor and Secretary of State for Energy Security calling for urgent action to protect households from rising energy bills before this winter.

The open letter [1] warns that without further intervention “millions of households will continue to suffer.”

It comes as energy bills are forecast to rise by 18% in July and a further 4% in September. Polling for the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit found that the cost of living was the top driver of voting intention overall and energy bills were the single biggest cost-of-living concern among voters in the recent elections.

The letter acknowledges steps already taken by the government, including the November Budget decision to move the cost of the Renewables Obligation from bills to general taxation, the additional £1.5 billion for the Warm Homes Plan, and the 21st April package accelerating the clean energy transition.

But the signatories warn these measures risk being “wiped out before households feel them” unless ambition is increased.

The letter sets out four specific actions: enhanced financial support for households this winter, including an improved Warm Home Discount and action on energy debt; completion of the break between electricity prices and volatile gas markets; expanded support for solar, heat pumps, insulation and electric vehicles, particularly for lower-income households; and a commitment to staying the course on clean power rather than new oil and gas extraction.

On the transition to moving away from fossil fuels to clean energy, the letter points to growing public appetite for change, citing heat pump orders more than doubling in March compared with February, solar installations up 80% and electric vehicle leases up 85%.

According to End Fuel Poverty Coalition research with Survation, majorities of voters across all main parties say they either already have technology to reduce their energy use and lower their bills, or that rising prices following the conflict in Iran have made them more likely to want it. Labour voters lead on 67%, followed by Lib Dems (65%), Greens (61%), Reform (58%) and Conservatives (55%). [2]

The signatories are also calling for a Warm Homes Guarantee [3] to ensure lower bills, provide independent advice, clear consumer rights and fast redress if installations go wrong, alongside protections for renters.

Despite a potential leadership challenge to the Prime Minister, the letter urges the Government to prioritise the forthcoming Energy Independence Bill after the King’s Speech, describing it as the vehicle to “make our energy cheaper, cleaner, fairer and more secure.”

Lord John Bird, a crossbench peer, signed the letter on behalf of the Big Issue and said:

“The British public punished the government at the ballot box last week for not going fast or far enough on cost-of-living pressures. Voters are fed up with being pummelled by rising household bills they simply can’t afford.

“People need to feel the change being promised in their everyday lives by the time winter rolls back in. Lower bills in warmer homes would be a good place to start.”

Simon Francis, Coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition who helped organise the letter, added:

“Voters are clearly worried by the impact of the latest energy price crisis, and are already turning in record numbers to technologies like solar power to free themselves from soaring oil and gas prices.

“The Government must now make sure that more households, regardless of their wealth, can make that switch to clean electricity too and feel the savings in their bills now.

“That means breaking the link between electricity and gas prices for good, and rapidly expanding support for solar panels, heat pumps, insulation and electric vehicles, especially for lower-income households who have the most to gain but the least ability to act alone.

“Ministers need to be on the side of bill payers, not billionaires and go much further and faster to get us off the fossil fuel rollercoaster for good.”

Jackie O’Sullivan, Executive Director of Strategy and Influence at learning disability charity Mencap, said:

“Rising energy bills hit people with a learning disability hard. Many have no choice but to use more energy – for specialist equipment, to heat their homes for longer, to simply stay safe and well. The Government has taken positive steps, but must act to tackle the crushing energy debt crisis, widen the Warm Home Discount, and deliver a social tariff that protects those with the highest unavoidable energy costs.”

Frazer Scott, CEO Energy Action Scotland, another signatory commented:

“Far too many people are trapped in a vicious cycle of debt and despair, unable to heat their homes and feed their families. Essential energy is out of reach in an enduring crisis. Break the cycle, reduce costs and increase help for those that need it most. People over profit.”

Jan Shortt, General Secretary, National Pensioners Convention, said:

“It is totally wrong that customers are always expected to pay the ever increasing price of energy. Older people, particularly those with complex health conditions, need warmth and comfort even in warmer weather. Whilst the government has taken some steps the message at the ballot box was not enough to help households stay out of debt.”

ENDS

[1] The full letter can be read as a pdf: https://www.endfuelpoverty.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/260512-PM-Kings-Speech-Letter.pdf

[2] Survation were commissioned by the End Fuel Poverty Coalition to interview 2,047 people from 2-7 April 2026. Data were weighted to the profile of the UK. Data was weighted by respondent’s sex, age, region, household income, highest qualification, and past vote (GE24, EU16).

[3] A separate letter [pdf] to the Minister for Energy Consumers on 11 May asked the Government to introduce a Warm Homes Guarantee. At its core, this must ensure that every household receiving publicly funded energy efficiency upgrades sees a tangible reduction in their energy bills, alongside improved comfort and living standards.

WARM Homes Guarantee

W: Warmth & wellbeing outcomes.

Homes must be demonstrably warmer, healthier and safer to live in, with outcomes measured in real-world conditions, not just installations signed off on paper.

A: Advice you can trust.

Every household receives independent, high-quality advice before and after work is done, delivered in a format that works for them. This includes support for the digitally excluded, help navigating choices, benefits and tariffs, and practical hand-holding, not just signposting to installer lists.

R: Rights, redress and protection.

Clear accountability, strong consumer protections and fast routes to remediation when things go wrong, including compensation and repairs. For renters, this also means protection from rent hikes or eviction linked to upgrades.

M: Measured and fair energy costs.

A clear, enforceable commitment that upgrades will deliver fair outcomes on energy costs (either lower bills or improved warmth and comfort for the same spend) backed by monitoring, transparency and redress where expectations are not met.

£26.2 billion in energy industry profits posted since start of 2026

Energy companies have generated profits of over £26.2 billion in the first three months of 2026, with around £3 billion generated on the firms’ UK operations. [1]

The UK generated returns equate to £102 in profit for every household in the UK in just three months. [2]

The figures have been compiled following trading updates by a host of household name energy firms in recent weeks as the conflict with Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz delivered a significant war windfall for oil and gas firms at the same time as households face rising bills.

Among the results included in the figures are Equinor, the UK’s biggest gas supplier, which said it had generated £7.19 billion in profit in Q1 2026. Shell’s announcement of £5.07 billion in profits is also included with the firm looking to reduce its UK tax liability by around £1.3 billion through its Adura joint venture with Equinor, which pools the two firms’ North Sea exploration assets.

TotalEnergies has followed a similar path to Adura, spinning off its UK North Sea assets into NEO NEXT+, now billing itself as the largest producer on the UK Continental Shelf. The parent company posted adjusted net income of £4 billion for the quarter, up from £3.1 billion a year earlier and has announced a share buyback and increased dividends.

BP reported underlying profits of £2.4 billion for the first three months of the year, more than double the figure from a year earlier, driven largely by its oil trading division.

Other firms included in the analysis include Chevron and Scottish Power owner Iberdrola. The Spanish-based firm reported an 11% rise in adjusted net profit in Q1 2026, with growth driven substantially by its regulated network operations in the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, new analysis from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit found that the average household’s energy bills will have been £4,800 (87%) higher over the five years since the start of the gas crisis in late 2021, with the coming winter likely to add even more to these extra costs.

Cornwall Insight forecasts average household energy bills will rise by £201 a year from 1 July while homes on heating oil and LPG energy have already seen energy costs soar, prompting the Government to provide limited emergency relief and extend support for these households to move off oil and gas.

In a new poll from Survation, 74% of the public felt that it is morally wrong for oil and gas companies to profit from the energy crisis caused by the Iran war [3]. The figures back up previous End Fuel Poverty Coalition polling which showed that the public support the Windfall Tax by a margin of two to one.

Energy company bosses saw their own personal wealth grow off the back of the current crisis, with Harbour Energy’s Linda Z Cook seeing the value of her shareholding rise by more than £4 million to £26 million in just the first four weeks of the latest conflict.

Harbour has claimed in a trading update that the Middle East conflict has created ‘unprecedented disruption’ to energy markets, while quietly more than doubling the amount of surplus cash (known as ‘free cash flow’) for 2026 to £1.02 billion ($1.4 billion) on the back of rising oil and gas prices.

Simon Francis, Coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition said:

“Around a quarter of every energy bill is taken in profit by a range of firms involved in the industry and that figure could well grow thanks to the war profits still being generated by the energy industry.

“Not only do these firms profit off the back of a war which has killed thousands of civilians, but the profits are also built on the backs of financial suffering in UK households.

“It can’t be right that while the public see their energy bills increase, energy firms make billions and employ rafts of accountants to maximise their profits and lobbyists to campaign against the Windfall Tax.

“The only winners from the conflict with Iran appear to be the oil and gas giants who control the prices we pay. The sooner we get off the fossil fuel price rollercoaster through increased energy efficiency of buildings and more renewables, the better.”

Jan Shortt, General Secretary of the National Pensioners Convention, commented:

“It is an appalling situation when energy companies profit from a humanitarian crisis and the public pay the price of ever increasing household bills.

“It is time for a real and urgent push to engage with renewable energy and sustainable energy rather than fossil fuels.

“We are concerned that increasing energy bills will mean that those who need heat even in the warmer weather due to their health conditions will be forced to cut down their consumption.

“The billions going into the coffers of energy companies like Shell and BP should be used to offset the increase in household energy bills so that hot food and heating homes when necessary doesn’t mean going into debt.”

Former North Sea oil worker, Danielle Dale, 51 from Aberdeenshire, said:

“I worked in operations for fossil fuel production, but I moved on. I saw that the world was changing and we needed to create a thriving, sustainable future. The question we should be asking the oil and gas industry is this: can we really call it profit when the true cost is counted in vanishing species, destabilised climates, and families choosing between heating and eating?”

ENDS

All currencies converted where necessary to GBP based on the Xe.com exchange rate at the time of results being posted.

[1] The data in this tracker has been collated from publicly available company reports and industry sources, with profits adjusted where possible to reflect UK operations. For multinational businesses, UK profit estimates are based on disclosed proportions of revenue, production, or operating assets attributable to the UK, or on reasonable assumptions using sector benchmarks where disclosure is limited. The figures are indicative, providing a consistent basis to assess trends in UK energy-sector profitability and its relationship to household energy costs. These measures differ from company to company due to reporting processes and regulatory requirements in different jurisdictions. In determining which measure of profitability to use, the research has prioritised the measure preferred in the company’s own accounts. Any totals declared here include offsetting any losses made by firms in the period cited. In total, the tracker now monitors over 30 firms – only a selection of these firms have posted Q1 2026 profits which are included in this analysis. These firms were selected by the researchers to create a cross section of the energy industry, to reflect those most frequently covered in the media and to ensure the main UK operators are represented.

Full information available at: https://www.endfuelpoverty.org.uk/news/energy-firm-profits-tracker/

Data as at 7 May 2026.

The data was compiled by freelance business journalist David Craik and examined and peer-reviewed by a business analyst with board-level experience within complex multinational businesses. David’s experience has included writing business and city news and features for national newspapers and magazines such as The Daily Mirror, Sunday Times, Wall Street Journal, Scotsman and Daily Express. Much of his content focuses on company financial results and reports in the energy sector and on personal finance issues including wealth management, property, investing and managing household budgets and bills.

[2] £2,965,733,324 estimated profit on UK operations, divided by 29,000,000 households in the UK = £102.27. (29m figure from ONS, 2025 data).

[3] The poll of 2,017 18+ adults was conducted by Survation for NEON, 29th April – 1st May 2026. Results were weighted to be reflective of the UK population.

Featured image: © Greenpeace. Greenpeace activists project the truth about the source of Shell’s huge profits onto their global headquarters by the Thames in London as well as next to a Shell petrol station. The projections include the messages “They Profit We Pay”, “War Profiteers”, “At Least We are Making Billions”, “War Profits HQ” and “Making a killing”.

Energy profits up as households brace for higher bills

Energy firms posted over £23.1 billion in profit from UK operations in 2025, according to new analysis of company reports. [1]

The figures, based on the returns of 30 companies heavily involved in the UK energy system, are an increase from £22.7 billion on 2024 numbers, but a slight decrease from the £27.6 billion posted in 2023 during the height of the Russian-triggered price shock.

The data does not take into account returns generated by the US-Israel conflict with Iran, where BP has already suggested it will make ‘exceptional’ returns and Shell could bank up to £5 billion in oil price profits. The next corporate profits season starts on Tuesday with BP posting its quarter one results.

Households on heating oil and LPG energy have already seen energy costs soar, prompting the Government to provide limited emergency relief and extend support for these households to move off oil and gas.

All households will see an increase in energy bills from 1 July when the next Ofgem price cap period starts.

According to the Common Wealth think tank, around a quarter of an energy bill is taken in profit by a range of firms involved in the industry. But while the Windfall Tax continues to be attacked by corporate lobbyists, the public back the Tax by a margin of two to one and ministers last week extended the tax paid by some energy giants.

Additionally, energy company bosses have been seeing their personal wealth grow off the back of the current crisis, with Harbour Energy’s Linda Z Cook seeing the value of her shareholding rise by more than £4 million to £26 million in just the first four weeks of the conflict.

Simon Francis, The End Fuel Poverty Coalition said:

“These figures are a damning verdict on an energy system that is failing the people it is supposed to serve.

“Households were already struggling with rising bills before Russia invaded Ukraine and sent gas prices through the roof. Now Trump’s war in Iran is delivering a third hammer blow.

“While households face another bill rise in July and millions remain trapped in fuel poverty, the companies that control our energy supply are cashing in.”

Robert Palmer, Uplift Deputy Director, said:

“It’s appalling that while millions are worrying over energy bills, these figures show that even before the war in Iran, energy companies were raking in billions of profits.

“The war is going to make all of this worse – with higher energy bills for most of us, while around the world oil companies are making an obscene $30 million (£22 million) an hour in unearned profits.

“The UK’s dependence on oil and gas is making all of us poorer. All except for the oil bosses and their shareholders who, once again, are profiting at our expense.

“That’s why we must ramp up renewables, and upgrade homes with solar power, batteries and heat pumps. It is the only way to insulate ourselves from energy shocks and protect the climate. We also need to support those who need it most with financial help. We should be putting these profits back in people’s pockets, not making the public pay for what is a humanitarian and economic disaster.”

Researchers working for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition examined the declared profits of 30 energy firms, from across the industry, including producers such as Shell and Equinor, grid operators including National Grid and UK Power Networks and suppliers such as British Gas, as well as energy trading companies. Any firms posting losses in this period are taken into account and five firms monitored are yet to file accounts for 2025.

ENDS

[1] The data in this tracker has been collated from publicly available company reports and industry sources, with profits adjusted where possible to reflect UK operations. For multinational businesses, UK profit estimates are based on disclosed proportions of revenue, production, or operating assets attributable to the UK, or on reasonable assumptions using sector benchmarks where disclosure is limited. The figures are indicative, providing a consistent basis to assess trends in UK energy-sector profitability and its relationship to household energy costs. These measures differ from company to company due to reporting processes and regulatory requirements in different jurisdictions. In determining which measure of profitability to use, the research has prioritised the measure preferred in the company’s own accounts. The totals declared here include offsetting any losses made by some of the firms in some years of the period examined. 30 firms were monitored, with 26 making a profit over 5 years. One is yet to post results. These firms were selected by the researchers to create a cross section of the energy industry and to reflect those most frequently covered in the media.

Full information available at: https://www.endfuelpoverty.org.uk/news/energy-firm-profits-tracker/

Data as at 31 March 2026.

The data was compiled by freelance business journalist David Craik and examined and peer-reviewed by a business analyst with board-level experience within complex multinational businesses.

David’s experience has included writing business and city news and features for national newspapers and magazines such as The Daily Mirror, Sunday Times, Wall Street Journal, Scotsman and Daily Express. Much of his content focuses on company financial results and reports in the energy sector and on personal finance issues including wealth management, property, investing and managing household budgets and bills.

Government announces fresh range of changes to bring down energy costs

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has set out a package of measures designed to reduce the country’s dependence on volatile costs of fossil fuels.

Recent polling carried out for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition found that 77% of the public agreed that ‘history just keeps repeating itself with energy prices’ and 72% felt that ‘our reliance on oil and gas makes us vulnerable to global price shocks.’ [1]

Ministers have backed the public’s view, arguing that two fossil fuel shocks in less than five years demonstrate that “the era of fossil fuel security is over, and the era of clean energy security must come of age.”

As part of the package of measures, the Government has increased support for households using heating oil and LPG to move to heat pumps by raising the boiler upgrade scheme grants to a total of £9,000. Moves will also be taken to make installing heat pumps easier in flats.

An additional £100 million in funding will help deliver energy upgrades to 100,000 social homes through the Warm Homes Plan, on top of the £1.2 billion pledged earlier this year.

A £25 million pilot scheme, delivered via local authorities and mayors, will install plug-in solar panels for low-income households.

Measures taken by the Chancellor include a new carrot and stick approach to reforming the cost of some electricity generation where energy firms are incentivised to lower prices by moving to new contracts or face higher windfall taxes.

Other announcements include:

A cross-government drive to build renewables on public estate land and expand solar-installation support for schools and colleges.
Legislation and consultation to expand EV charging provision, including cross-pavement charging, new and renovated buildings and easier access for renters and leaseholders.
A wide-ranging overhaul of planning, land access and grid connection rules to speed up clean energy infrastructure.

Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, commented

“Every spike in global gas markets feeds directly into household energy costs, and people in fuel poverty often pay the heaviest price.

“Research shows that the public understands this and wants to take action, but needs support to invest in energy efficiency measures.

“Any speeding up of the Warm Homes Plan will deliver more support to households quicker than planned. However, delivery through this Plan must include locally provided, specialist advice to ensure households choose the right options and a Warm Homes Guarantee so that consumers are sure to see the benefits of new technology.

“With bills forecast to rise from July, moves to get energy efficiency measures into homes and plans to delink the cost of gas from electricity bills can’t come soon enough. But until these reforms take effect, it’s clear that households will also need support with their energy costs.

“The households most exposed to that increase need support now, not just long-term structural change. That means help for those on low incomes, in poorly insulated homes, or relying on heating oil and LPG outside the price cap.”

Gavin Smart, chief executive, Chartered Institute of Housing, said:

“As another international crisis starts to push energy bills even higher, it is right that the government looks to accelerate the Warm Homes Plan.

“Every piece of loft insulation or solar panel that we install helps to keep homes warmer and cheaper to power, while reducing our reliance on volatile fossil fuel markets. CIH and our members will continue to support the government with this work in these crucial months before next winter.”

Jonathan Bean from Fuel Poverty Action, added:

“Any progress is welcome, but we are still a million miles from fair and affordable energy for all. Without bigger changes, millions of people will still face cold homes and unaffordable electricity prices.

“Our energy system will still be dominated by huge profits and high prices. Half-baked plans for air-to-air heat pumps and plug-in solar will still fail most people living in flats.

“Those most in need will still not get their fair share of the cheap clean energy we are generating. Government must make green fair, and deliver on its election promise to reduce bills by £300.”

National Energy Action responded on LinkedIn, commenting:

“Measures that deliver genuinely cheaper and more stable electricity prices for households, with a particular focus on those on low incomes or experiencing energy debt, are positive for those in fuel poverty. Any market intervention should be assessed against a clear test: whether it reduces energy bills in practice and improves affordability, enabling fuel poor households to heat their homes to a safe and adequate standard.

“More funding for heating oil and LPG customers in the Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers an opportunity to reduce their reliance on volatile fossil fuel markets. Many LPG households experience deep vulnerability, often combining low incomes with high levels of disability or long‑term illness. To be effective and equitable, the scheme must proactively reach and support low‑income, fuel poor households, particularly those who are least likely to seek support independently. Failure to do so risks excluding those who stand to benefit most.

“Additional funding for the Social Housing Fund has the potential to progress the government’s fuel poverty targets. Around 13% of social renters live in fuel poverty, and increased investment can deliver warmer, healthier homes for some of the most financially vulnerable households

“Increased support for low‑income households to access plug‑in solar will benefit fuel poor households, as a significant proportion live in flats, where rooftop solar is harder to obtain. Plug‑in solar can enable these households to benefit from self‑generation and reduced reliance on the grid. This support should be accompanied by clear advice on optimal tariffs and integrated with energy efficiency measures, such as insulation, to maximise bill reductions and long‑term affordability.”

ENDS

[1] Survation were commissioned by the End Fuel Poverty Coalition to interview 2,047 people from 2-7 April 2026. Data were weighted to the profile of the UK. Data was weighted by respondent’s sex, age, region, household income, highest qualification, and past vote (GE24, EU16). Research tables are available here.

Public demands Government help to end exposure to energy price shocks

British households want to break free from the cycle of fossil fuel price shocks for good, with new polling showing that the ongoing conflict with Iran has prompted more than a third of adults to increase their interest in new technologies to cut their bills and reduce their exposure to volatile global markets.

Research by Survation for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition finds that 35% of the public have become more interested in home energy technology since the Iran conflict began. Of these people, 45% are now more interested in getting solar panels on their roofs, 36% would like more home insulation, 35% are more interested in the new plug in solar option and 26% are now more interested in getting a heat pump.

But with 60% saying such options are simply too expensive, the public is calling on the Government to act, with 71% wanting grants for insulation and 68% seeking support for solar panels and heat pumps.

With 83% of the public worried about energy bills and 44% saying they would be unable to afford the expected £228 annual increase in energy bills from 1 July, 73% want to see targeted support for households and 67% want to see help for all households with energy bills.

Heating Oil and LPG customers have already seen the cost of energy increase and as price rises loom for even more households from 1 July, a majority of the public (64%) believe that the energy industry is profiteering from the conflict in Iran and a majority say that ending the Windfall Tax now would be the wrong thing to do.

Simon Francis, End Fuel Poverty Coalition coordinator said:

“The public has had enough of history repeating itself. They want to protect themselves from oil and gas price shocks for good, and the Government has both the means and the mandate to help them do it.

“Energy firms made £125bn in profits on their UK operations over the last five years and companies like BP are already expecting bumper profits from the fresh crisis. The Windfall Tax revenue raised by the Treasury should be going further to help households cut their bills for good.

“The Government’s Warm Homes Plan is the right vehicle, but now is the moment to make it even more ambitious and to ensure it comes with a guarantee that every upgraded home will see energy efficiency improve and bills come down.”

Three-quarters of the public (76%) hold Donald Trump responsible for energy bill increases set to hit UK households, while 65% also blame the energy industry directly. The anger runs deep enough that 63% of respondents agree the increases amount to a Trump Tax on their bills.

Robert Palmer, Deputy Director of Uplift, added:

“People know they’re being hit with a Trump Tax, plain and simple. We’re facing higher energy bills, rocketing fuel prices and more expensive mortgages.

“Our dependence on fossil fuels is making all of us poorer. All except for the oil and gas bosses and their shareholders who – once again – are set to cash in at our expense.

“Now Trump is demanding that the UK doubles down on drilling. But we can’t drill our way out of this crisis. More drilling won’t take a penny off our bills, and would have no meaningful impact on the UK’s supply of gas. We’ve burned most of what was in the North Sea already.

“The only way to insulate ourselves from these risks is to press on with renewables, like wind, and upgrade our homes with solar power and heat pumps, so we can free ourselves from oil and gas and ensure we have a liveable planet. And this polling shows the public gets this, even if Donald Trump doesn’t.

“The Government needs to help people who want to upgrade their homes and have more control of their energy bills, as well as billpayers who are going to struggle.

“This is a Trump Tax, plain and simple. It’s likely to be a painful economic hit to the UK with higher energy bills, rocketing food prices and more expensive mortgages.”

ENDS

Survation were commissioned by the End Fuel Poverty Coalition to interview 2,047 people from 2-7 April 2026. Data were weighted to the profile of the UK. Data was weighted by respondent’s sex, age, region, household income, highest qualification, and past vote (GE24, EU16).

Research tables can be downloaded here.

Eight in ten people fear rising bills as voters back energy Windfall Tax

The majority of the public are worried about rising energy costs as a result of the conflict with in Iran, according to new polling by Survation for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition.

83% of the public are worried about energy bills and 44% say they would be unable to afford the expected £228 annual increase in energy bills from 1 July.

A quarter of these respondents claim they would be “completely unable to pay my energy bill” if costs rose to this level.

As energy bills are set to rise, a majority of the public (64%) believe that the energy industry is profiteering from the conflict in Iran.

Over half (53%) of the population say that ending the Windfall Tax now would be the wrong thing to do (just 22% felt that it should be ended) as some industry groups have called for.

More generally, 41% of the public support the Windfall Tax on energy firms, compared to just 17% opposing it. Meanwhile, almost half (47%) believe that windfall taxes should actually be extended to more companies within the energy industry.

A windfall tax is an additional tax applied when companies make unusually high profits, often due to external factors rather than increased productivity or investment.

Support for the Windfall Tax remains among voters from all parties, according to the data. Among those intending to vote for Reform UK in the next general election, 39% support the Tax with just 24% opposing it. For those thinking of voting Conservative, 44% still support the Levy and 19% oppose it.

Among Labour, Green and Liberal Democrat voters, support is even stronger – as is support for extending the taxes to other sections of the industry.

Backing for the Windfall Tax was also strong in all areas of the country, with people in Wales polling the strongest support for the Levy. Earlier detailed polling in Scotland had shown 41% backing the Tax with 19% opposing it, but the new data suggests that this support has deepened with 44% now in favour of the Levy.

Recent figures have shown that the energy industry made £125bn in profits on their UK operations in the last 5 years and in the month since the conflict in the Middle East began, the share prices of energy companies have soared adding over £233bn to the market capitalisation of firms and resulting in a boost in the wealth of energy firm bosses.

Simon Francis, End Fuel Poverty Coalition coordinator said:

“Trump’s attacks on Iran, the damage to Qatari gas production and the disruption to supplies has led to spikes in the costs of heating oil and gas.

“But while households will feel the effects of this for months to come, the energy industry will continue to benefit from increased prices and a fresh wave of excess profits.

“Not only is the Windfall Tax vital in raising revenue to help those most affected from high energy bills, but this must also be the moment that the country unites to push for more support for energy efficiency measures and boosts renewable energy plans to bring down bills and secure our energy supply for the long-term.”

Robert Palmer, deputy director of Uplift said:

“Politicians calling for an end to the windfall tax just as the oil and gas giants are about to make billions in bumper profits are tone deaf.

“Instead of siding with the profiteering oil industry, political parties should be standing up for billplayers who are facing a steep Trump Tax on everything from their energy bills, to petrol and food.

“Last time, when Russia invaded Ukraine, oil companies didn’t invest their windfall profits in more drilling, instead executives and shareholders got windfall payouts. The government needs to tune out the barrage of special pleading by the oil firms and their political cheerleaders, and focus on real solutions to this crisis.

“The only way to bring down energy costs over the long term is to get off our reliance on oil and gas, and invest as fast as we can in renewables. More North Sea drilling will not take a penny off our bills, only boost the profits of fossil fuel companies.”

ENDS

Questions cited in the news story (some totals will not sum to 100% due to rounding, sample sizes in Northern Ireland are below 50 and should not be taken as representative)

An Energy Profits Levy (EPL) or ‘Windfall Tax’ was levied on oil and gas companies operating in the UK in May 2022 in response to record oil and gas industry profits and the rapid increase in energy costs following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It is due to be in place until 2030. Do you support or oppose, or neither support nor oppose, the current windfall tax on oil and gas company profits?

Strongly support: 20%
Tend to support: 21%
Neither support nor oppose: 26%
Tend to oppose: 9%
Strongly oppose: 8%
Don’t know: 16%

	Total	Voting Intention
	Total	LAB	CON	RFM	LD	GRN	OTH
Strongly support	19.77%	27.43%	19.27%	15.02%	28.16%	20.25%	19.21%
Tend to support	21.34%	25.40%	24.44%	23.82%	33.60%	23.49%	12.85%
Neither support nor oppose	26.42%	25.42%	29.44%	26.48%	19.82%	22.46%	26.61%
Tend to oppose	8.94%	9.66%	10.07%	12.22%	7.24%	8.09%	7.49%
Strongly oppose	8.05%	5.60%	8.68%	11.62%	1.78%	7.51%	8.11%
Don’t know	15.48%	6.49%	8.10%	10.84%	9.41%	18.20%	25.72%
NET: Support	41.11%	52.83%	43.71%	38.83%	61.76%	43.74%	32.07%
NET: Oppose	16.99%	15.27%	18.75%	23.84%	9.02%	15.60%	15.60%

	Total	Region
	Total	London	South	Midlands	North	England	Scotland	Wales	Northern Ireland
Strongly support	19.77%	18.64%	20.93%	15.61%	17.62%	18.65%	24.55%	22.06%	35.86%
Tend to support	21.34%	27.41%	19.77%	21.47%	19.47%	21.19%	19.49%	25.48%	24.59%
Neither support nor oppose	26.42%	25.28%	29.91%	26.95%	27.42%	27.94%	20.17%	20.47%	8.62%
Tend to oppose	8.94%	11.65%	7.72%	9.64%	7.82%	8.72%	10.89%	4.71%	17.09%
Strongly oppose	8.05%	8.30%	7.46%	7.62%	8.41%	7.88%	8.90%	8.21%	10.33%
Don’t know	15.48%	8.71%	14.21%	18.72%	19.25%	15.61%	16%	19.07%	3.51%
NET: Support	41.11%	46.05%	40.70%	37.07%	37.09%	39.84%	44.04%	47.54%	60.45%
NET: Oppose	16.99%	19.95%	15.18%	17.26%	16.23%	16.60%	19.79%	12.92%	27.42%

“It would be wrong to scrap the Windfall Tax now.”

Strongly agree: 24%
Somewhat agree: 28%
Somewhat disagree: 14%
Strong disagree: 8%
Don’t know: 26%

	Total	Voting Intention
	Total	LAB	CON	RFM	LD	GRN	OTH
Strongly agree	24.22%	31%	20.69%	24.95%	29.22%	31.93%	20.74%
Somewhat agree	28.44%	32.61%	38.78%	28.27%	33.37%	22.77%	24.39%
Somewhat disagree	13.98%	14.10%	13.22%	19.03%	10.82%	11.77%	11.66%
Strongly disagree	7.79%	7.40%	5.35%	8.05%	8.53%	8.73%	6.96%
Don’t know	25.57%	14.90%	21.97%	19.70%	18.07%	24.80%	36.25%
NET: Agree	52.66%	63.61%	59.47%	53.22%	62.58%	54.70%	45.13%
NET: Disagree	21.77%	21.50%	18.56%	27.08%	19.34%	20.50%	18.63%

	Total	Region
	Total	London	South	Midlands	North	England	Scotland	Wales	Northern Ireland
Strongly agree	24.22%	25.73%	27.10%	21.52%	18.35%	23.42%	29.51%	26.40%	29.01%
Somewhat agree	28.44%	33.39%	25.43%	28.81%	29.63%	28.46%	23.80%	32.63%	34.61%
Somewhat disagree	13.98%	15.86%	11.76%	16.61%	13.68%	13.85%	14.51%	9.51%	24.13%
Strongly disagree	7.79%	8%	7.95%	8.78%	7.67%	8.04%	6.22%	6.66%	6.85%
Don’t know	25.57%	17.01%	27.75%	24.28%	30.67%	26.23%	25.96%	24.80%	5.39%
NET: Agree	52.66%	59.13%	52.54%	50.33%	47.99%	51.88%	53.31%	59.03%	63.62%
NET: Disagree	21.77%	23.86%	19.72%	25.39%	21.34%	21.89%	20.74%	16.17%	30.98%

Which of the following statements best describes your view?

Energy companies are profiteering from the conflict in Iran: 64%
Energy companies are not profiteering from the conflict in Iran: 15%
I don’t know: 21%

Which of the following comes closest to your view?

Windfall Taxes should be extended to more companies within the energy sector: 47%
Windfall Taxes should not be extended to more companies within the energy sector: 21%
Don’t know: 32%

How concerned are you about the potential rising costs for the following due to the conflict in Iran, if at all? – Energy bills

Very concerned: 55%
Somewhat concerned: 28%
Not very concerned: 8%
Not at all concerned: 4%
Don’t know: 5%
NET, concerned: 83%
NET, not concerned: 12%

Some predict average energy bills to increase by £228 per year in July. If your energy bill were to increase by this amount, which of the following statements best reflects your view?

I would be unable to afford this energy bill price increase: 44%
I would be able to afford this energy bill price increase: 38%
Don’t know: 15%
Prefer not to say: 3%

In the previous question you said that you would be unable to afford this energy bill price increase.In a scenario where your energy bill increased by £228, which of the following statements best reflects your view?

I would have to cut back on essential goods to afford to pay for my energy bill: 49%
I would be completely unable to pay my energy bill: 25%
I would have to cut back on luxury goods to afford to pay for my energy bill: 15%
I would be unable to afford this energy price increase, but I will not cut back on any spending to be able to pay for my energy bill: 9%
Don’t know 2%
Prefer not to say: 1%

Energy rich list reveals bosses whose fortunes surge as bills soar

The bosses of some of Britain’s biggest energy companies have seen their personal fortunes surge by millions of pounds as a result of the conflict in the Middle East.

Analysis of shareholdings declared in annual reports and share price movements between 26 February and 27 March 2026 shows how energy chiefs may have benefited from the crisis, even as millions of households brace for a sharp rise in bills.

Among them, Harbour Energy’s Linda Z Cook saw the value of her shareholding rise by more than £4 million to £26 million.

Harbour accounts for around 15 per cent of the UK’s domestic oil and gas output and has been led by American Cook since 2021. Prior to leading the firm, which she owns almost 9 million shares in, Cook spent much of her earlier career at Shell.

Meanwhile Shell’s Wael Sawan added nearly £1.8 million to take his stake to £13.2 million. Sawan joined Shell as an engineer in 1997 and spent the early part of his career in Oman before rising through the ranks to lead Shell’s operations in Qatar, including overseeing its liquefied natural gas division.

At Centrica, Chris O’Shea saw the value of his shares rise by over £300,000, even as the British Gas owner’s boss told the BBC this month that higher household bills were “inescapable” and had previously said that it was “impossible to justify” his salary and rewards package.

At BP, incoming chief executive Meg O’Neill only took the reins on 1 April, but interim boss Carol Howle saw her shares grow by over £500,000 during the period. Departed chief executive Murray Auchincloss, who held more than 1.8 million shares at the time of his departure, could have seen his stake rise to £10.6 million at current prices.

The picture is even more dramatic among the global giants whose share prices have been supercharged by the Middle East conflict.

Chevron chief executive Michael Wirth saw the value of his near two-million-share stake rise by more than £44 million in a single month, taking his total holding to more than £312 million.

ExxonMobil’s Darren Woods added over £5 million to sit at more than £40 million, and TotalEnergies chief Patrick Pouyanné’s stake now stands at £39 million. Equinor, the Norwegian state-backed firm that supplies much of the gas the UK depends on, saw its shares rise more than 45 per cent, adding nearly £700,000 to the personal stake of chief executive Anders Opedal.

Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said

“There are very few winners from the conflict in the Middle East, and most of those are the wealthy oil and gas bosses who help set the prices we all pay for our energy.

“But while these fossil fuel chiefs argue for more drilling in the North Sea and count the profits they will make from any new exploration, millions of UK households are facing the prospect of spending more than a tenth of their income just to keep the lights on and the heating running.

“Politicians must show whose side they are on: the households struggling with energy bills, or the millionaires calling for an early end to the Windfall Tax on North Sea profits.”

The figures come as wholesale gas prices remain at levels not seen since 2023. Average household energy bills are forecast to rise to £1,929 from 1 July 2026, a 18 per cent increase on the current cap.

Separate End Fuel Poverty Coalition data shows that energy firms have already made more than £125 billion in profits on their UK operations since 2020. At current energy prices, the Government stands to collect substantial additional tax revenue via the Energy Profits Levy.

The Coalition has called on the Government to direct that revenue towards households trapped in energy debt and those who will suffer most from a sharp rise in bills as a result of the conflict.

Caitlin Boswell, interim Deputy Director at Tax Justice UK said

“Different parts of the economy are set to make eye-watering paydays as they spot opportunities for profiteering from the US-Israeli war on Iran and immense human suffering, while ordinary people see their energy bills sky-rocket.

“That’s why the Chancellor should urgently implement excess profits taxes on energy, defence and banking sectors – called for by wider civil society – to send a clear message that the UK won’t accept profiteering from war and crisis.

“This needs to be coupled with tax system reform that ensures the massive asset price rises, like stocks in energy companies, are taxed fairly. Failing to do so will see stock price explosions channel enormous sums of money to the pockets of the super-rich, while millions in the UK are made more vulnerable to the cost of living crisis.”

Deputy director of Uplift, Robert Palmer, added:

“It’s appalling that while millions are worrying over their energy bills, we are seeing energy barons rake in millions of profits. One North Sea CEO has seen their wealth increase £4 million since the start of the Iran conflict – that’s an extra million a week.

“What’s more these companies are using this crisis to call for even more drilling in the North Sea. This would not take a penny off bills, but would lock us into an unaffordable energy supply for longer and just increase oil company profits even more.

“The oil and gas industry has been clear that the only way they would consider investing in the North Sea now, an ultra-mature and high cost basin, is if the government removes the windfall tax, which is shameful. We need political leaders who put bill-payers before billionaires and not give in to their demands.”

The data also shows that 12 of the world’s biggest energy companies added more than £233 billion in combined market value in a single month. Market capitalisation is one of the most widely used measures of a company’s overall financial health and the confidence investors place in its future earnings.

When market capitalisation rises sharply, it signals that financial markets expect the company to generate significantly higher profits in the coming months and years. Over the same period (26 February to 27 March 2026), the general FTSE 100 Index of leading UK share prices has fallen by nearly 9%.

Jonathan Bean, Fuel Poverty Action spokesperson, said:

“The Government must act urgently to stop more obscene energy profiteering from war, which will leave millions unable to afford the essential energy they need. Windfall tax loopholes must be removed and fair wealth taxes introduced.”

ENDS

All shareholding valuations are derived from closing share prices on 26 February and 27 March 2026. All non-UK currencies have been converted using the mid-market rate as per the relevant date. Being featured on this list or in this news story does not imply any wrongdoing on the part of companies or individuals and all share allocations have been made in line with standard remuneration packages.

Full data is available here (pdf).

Sources for shareholdings

Linda Z Cook / Harbour Energy

Harbour Energy Annual Report and Accounts 2025, Directors’ Remuneration Report

https://www.harbourenergy.com/media/a11hxbdn/harbour-energy-annual-report-accounts-2025_web.pdf

Wael Sawan / Shell

Shell Annual Report and Accounts 2025, Directors’ Remuneration Report

https://www.shell.com/investors/results-and-reporting/annual-report.html

Chris O’Shea / Centrica

Centrica Annual Report and Accounts 2025, Directors’ Remuneration Report

https://www.centrica.com/media/ckfb0qxj/annual-report-and-accounts-2025-untagged.pdf Page 101

Carol Howle and Murray Auchincloss / BP

BP Annual Report and Form 20-F 2025, Directors’ Remuneration Report. Shareholding figures based on position as of 13 February 2026.

https://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp/business-sites/en/global/corporate/pdfs/investors/bp-annual-report-and-form-20f-2025.pdf

Darren Woods / ExxonMobil

ExxonMobil SEC Filing, April 2025

https://investor.exxonmobil.com/sec-filings/all-sec-filings/content/0001193125-25-073986/0001193125-25-073986.pdf

Patrick Pouyanné / TotalEnergies

TotalEnergies Universal Registration Document 2025. Shareholding figure as of 18 March 2026.

https://totalenergies.com/system/files/documents/totalenergies_universal-registration-document-2025_2026_en.pdf

Michael Wirth / Chevron

Chevron Proxy Statement 2025

https://www.chevron.com/-/media/shared-media/documents/chevron-proxy-statement-2025.pdf – Page 110

Anders Opedal / Equinor

Equinor Remuneration Report 2025, shareholding as of 31 December 2025

https://cdn.equinor.com/files/h61q9gi9/global/a2b3945f550c9cd7f2e3e6085fc84d84e97fdb0b.pdf?2025-remuneration-report-equinor.pdf

The data was compiled by freelance business journalist David Craik. David’s experience has included writing business and city news and features for national newspapers and magazines such as The Daily Mirror, Sunday Times, Wall Street Journal, Scotsman and Daily Express. The data was peer reviewed by a former Bloomberg economist with expertise in the energy sector.

North Sea profits spike should be used to offset energy bill rises

North Sea energy firms are set to make bumper profits, which would lead to increased revenues for the Government under the Windfall Tax, according to new figures reported exclusively in the Mirror.

Fossil fuel costs surged again late last week as attacks on energy sites in Iran and Qatar were followed by threats from US President Donald Trump to “massively blow up” a key Iranian gas field.

The data shows that for every month that energy prices remain at levels seen on 18th March 2026, profits from these prices could result in over £200m in revenue through the Energy Profits Levy. If prices stayed at this level, this would result in annual income of over £2.4bn. [1]

If combined with additional offshore corporation tax revenue on energy firms’ profits, the totals increase even further to £427m a month or £5.1bn a year. [2]

While the Ofgem energy price cap is set to fall slightly from April 2026, rising wholesale gas prices mean bills will rise sharply again from 1 July. Some households are already feeling the impact of rising costs. Off-gas households relying on heating oil have reported refill prices doubling in recent weeks, LPG customers are facing rising prices and some heat network customers could soon face steep increases as energy supply contracts expire.

The End Fuel Poverty Coalition has recently asked the Government to prepare an emergency energy support framework to protect households from rising gas and oil prices which will filter onto energy bills [3].

A spokesperson for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said:

“Anyone still arguing against the Energy Profits Levy should hang their head in shame. Whenever oil and gas prices spike, energy industry profits rise while households are left to face higher bills, deeper debt and impossible choices.

“It is only fair that these windfall profits help households who will suffer as a result of the increases in energy bills.

“Our message to ministers is simple. Help the hardest-hit households first and be ready to move fast if this crisis gets worse. That means urgent support for off-gas homes and heat network customers, targeted bill cuts if prices rise again, action on energy debt and stronger winter protection.

“It would protect people now while longer-term reforms bring bills down for good.”

Since 2020, energy firms have already made more than £125bn in profits on their UK operations.

In Scotland, recent polling showed that voters across the political spectrum backed the Windfall Tax on energy profits in its current form. Frazer Scott, Chief Executive of Energy Action Scotland, commented:

“The current crisis shows that energy companies continue to make excessive profits at the expense of people. People who cannot heat their homes to a safe level and are burdened by £5.5bn of unrepayable domestic energy debt. Until there is reform that puts people at the heart of the energy system it is right for big business to put its fair share back to help those that need it most.”

Uplift Deputy Director Robert Palmer, said:

“Billpayers didn’t ask for this war and are now facing a huge Trump Tax on petrol, mortgages and food, with sky high energy bills looming once the current price cap ends. Yet once again, as we saw in Ukraine, oil and gas companies are profiting from what is a humanitarian crisis.

“The extra billions they stand to make from the crisis should be taxed and used to support people through the economic pain that’s on its way. Ultimately the only way to bring down bills over the long term is to get off our reliance on oil and gas, and invest as fast as we can in renewables.”

Jonathan Bean, spokesperson for Fuel Poverty Action, said:
“Instead of the £300 bill saving the Government promised us, we now face a £300 bill jump from July. The Government failed to fix the market after the 2022 crisis, so we’ve been left vulnerable to price spikes. The Prime Minister needs to get a grip on the obscene profiteering from war, close windfall tax loopholes, and bring down our bills.”

ENDS

The End Fuel Poverty Coalition brings together more than 100 charities, health organisations, housing groups, trade unions and consumer bodies working to end fuel poverty across the UK.

[1] OBR March 2025 ready reckoners (fetched 17 March 2026), applied to OBR March 2026 EFO baseline prices. Prices assumed: $100 barrel for oil and 130p/therm gas. This calculation was made before the additional spike in prices caused by the attacks on Iranian and Qatari gas facilities on 19th March, so the figures could be higher if current prices are sustained. .

[2] Prior to the latest escalation in prices and before the OBR updated its ready reckoners on the 17th of March analysis for Granville Partners, a consultancy firm run by former Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s ex-chief of staff estimated the total extra tax revenue at £2.7bn. This could now be at the lower end of expectations and may not be directly comparable with the analysis above.

[3] The Coalition’s proposals focus on targeted support for households most exposed to high energy costs, while retaining the ability to expand support more widely if the crisis deepens.

The immediate measures recommended include a new, longer-term, Alternative Fuel Support Scheme for households relying on heating oil, LPG and other off-gas-grid fuels, as well as support for heat network customers who face rising commercial energy prices.

The proposal also recommends preparing a targeted reduction in energy unit rates from July if the Ofgem price cap rises significantly, alongside faster rollout of a national energy debt relief scheme to address record levels of household debt.

For the winter, the Coalition is calling for reforms to existing schemes including further expansion of the Warm Home Discount and strengthening Cold Weather Payments so support reaches vulnerable households earlier.

Ministers are also urged to speed up reform to electricity pricing and prepare a scalable universal support package that could be activated quickly if energy prices spike further.

The Coalition says the proposals are designed to complement longer-term policies such as the Government’s Warm Homes Plan and Clean Power Plan, which aim to reduce energy bills permanently by improving energy efficiency and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

Government urged to prepare emergency energy bill support

The End Fuel Poverty Coalition has written to ministers urging the Government to prepare an emergency energy support framework to protect households from rising energy bills as global fossil fuel prices remain volatile.

In a new policy proposal sent to the UK Government, the Coalition warns that the current gas and oil price crisis could see millions of households in fuel poverty if bills increase again from July.

While the Ofgem energy price cap is set to fall slightly from April 2026, rising wholesale gas prices mean bills could rise sharply again this summer. Early projections suggest the average annual bill could increase and, as a result, the Coalition estimates that around 13 million households will be left spending more than 10% of their income on energy, with c.5 million spending more than 20%.

Some households are already feeling the impact of rising costs. Off-gas households relying on heating oil have reported refill prices doubling in recent weeks, LPG customers are facing rising prices, while heat network customers could soon face steep increases as energy supply contracts expire.

The Coalition’s proposals focus on targeted support for households most exposed to high energy costs, while retaining the ability to expand support more widely if the crisis deepens.

Ministers are also urged to speed up reform to electricity pricing and prepare a scalable universal support package that could be activated quickly if energy prices spike further.

However, campaigners warn that households still need protection from price shocks in the meantime.

Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said

“Millions of households are still recovering from the last energy crisis, with record levels of energy debt and many already struggling to afford their bills.

“The risk is that we see another wave of fuel poverty driven by the oil and gas price crisis caused by Trump’s war in the Middle East.

“This is history repeating itself and rather than making snap decisions, the Government should establish an emergency support framework now, so households know what support can be expected.

“Reducing energy price spikes benefits the whole country. It helps limit inflation, reduces pressure on household finances, prevents worsening fuel poverty and cuts the health impacts associated with cold homes.

“This support should be funded fairly. Energy companies and other parts of the energy industry make huge profits during periods of price volatility, so it is only right that windfall taxes and excess profits are used to help protect households from another energy price shock.”

Maria Booker, Head of Policy, Fair By Design, commented:

“The Government must use the next two and a half months to design an emergency support package that is both effective and fair. Support should be carefully targeted towards those who need it most and funded in an equitable way.

“This shock is yet another reminder of why the Government must accelerate progress on data‑matching capabilities so that support can be better targeted.

“Ultimately, reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and transitioning to clean power generated here in the UK, will mean we are not at the mercy of global energy shocks like this in future.”

Uplift Deputy Director Robert Palmer said:

“Everyone in the UK is going to pay the price if this reckless conflict continues via a ‘Trump War Tax’ that could add thousands of pounds to people’s bills.

“We risk seeing higher energy bills, more expensive petrol, pricier mortgages and bigger food bills. It’s good to see some immediate support from the government on heating oil and it’s crucial that the government provides further support if it’s needed on bills.

“The UK must also plan for the long term. What we need is to ramp up the shift to renewable power so we have cheaper energy, secure supply and a cleaner environment. Oil and gas profiteers, who stand to make billions out of the Iran crisis, should pay their share of any financial help.”

Morgan Vine, Director of Policy and Influencing at Independent Age said:

“It is clear that support is needed for older people in financial hardship who are understandably anxious about what the fuel crisis could mean for them. With over half of older people on a low income already finding it a struggle to keep up with their energy bills, many are already making tough choices, not turning the lights on at night, heating only one room even in the depths of winter, or washing in cold water.

“Older people on low incomes can’t afford to absorb any more costs; they’re already at breaking point. The UK Government must take comprehensive action now to protect everyone on a low income from sky-high energy prices.”

Jonathan Bean, spokesperson for Fuel Poverty Action, said:

“Any emergency support must recognise that electric-only homes face much higher unit prices than oil and gas households due to our rigged energy market.

“The Government must urgently break the link between gas and electricity which allows firms to inflate the price of cheap renewable energy.

“The Prime Minister must also get a grip on the huge profits that already make up £500 of the average energy bill. If the Government was serious about bringing down our bills, they would work with Ofgem to cut profits and pass the savings back to us.”

Susie Elks, Senior Policy Advisor on the UK Power System at E3G commented:

“In spite of this crisis, the government must continue to resolve the challenges which are increasing some of the underlying drivers for bills. They must lower the cost of ‘hidden taxes’ on bills, which add £11bn to households and business energy bills.

“They must solve the energy debt crisis, which is adding £50-£70 to every household’s bill.

“They must find a way for us to modernise our energy networks, which have been chronically underinvested in, whilst managing the costs to households.”

Ian Preston, Director of Development and External Affairs from the Centre for Sustainable Energy commented:

“Another fossil fuel price crisis, when many households still haven’t recovered from the last one, underlines the urgent need to support households to switch to heat pumps powered by homegrown renewable energy generation as quickly as possible. But, in the meantime though, bill payers, especially those reliant on oil or LPG, need bill support to stay warm this coming winter.”

The End Fuel Poverty Coalition brings together more than 100 charities, health organisations, housing groups, trade unions and consumer bodies working to end fuel poverty across the UK.

The full proposal has been shared with ministers and officials and the Coalition has offered to meet with the Government to discuss how the measures could be implemented.

ENDS

The full proposals can be read here.

Fuel poverty calculations are extrapolations using analyst forecasts of average energy bills and based on the data compiled in 2025 https://www.endfuelpoverty.org.uk/fuel-poverty-statistics-show-12-million-households-struggling/