Welsh council faces £8m energy bill rise
Neath Port Talbot council is asking for government help with energy costs
A south Wales council is asking the UK government for help as it faces a rise in energy costs of more than 8 million pounds..
At the moment, Neath Port Talbot council pays just over 5 million for its electricity and gas contracts but that could rise to more than £13m over the next two years.
There is concern that without help cuts to council services will be inevitable.
Cllr Simon Knoyle, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance,
Performance and Social Justice, said: “There is an urgent need for government support otherwise we face the prospect of deep cuts to services which will have a damaging impact on local people at a time when we are working hard to respond to much higher levels of need following the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Schools, community centres, transport, theatres, leisure centres, social care and many other services are facing bills that outstrip the budgets available.
"Without government intervention service cuts will be unavoidable.”
Wholesale energy costs have quadrupled since Autumn 2021 and are set to rise another 65% in October 2022.