Welsh council appeal to UK government to stop energy price hikes
Swansea Council said the rising cost of living is affecting millions
A Welsh council has appealed to the UK government to step in to control the rising cost of energy.
Swansea Council is urging Westminster to protect the livelihoods of those who are struggling to pay the bills.
It comes as the price cap, which limits the maximum amount of money that households should pay, is to skyrocket later this year.
People across Wales and the UK are having to tighten their purse strings as a result of a cost of living crisis triggered by Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic.
As well as this, the rise in inflation means that prices are higher than they were before, and wages are struggling to make ends meet.
As a result, Swansea Council passed a notice of motion directed to the UK Government to step in to stop prices rising.
The notice called on Chancellor Rishi Sunak, as well as Swansea council leader Rob Stewart, to reduce the rate of VAT for energy bills and the introduction of a lower price cap.
Speaking about the notice, Cllr Stewart said that the rising cost of items such as fuel and energy would put more people at risk.
"We want to help families and householders by protecting them from excessive price rises. They face an unprecedented squeeze on incomes and people are increasingly worse off," he said.
“As a council, we’ll do all we can to help by signposting residents to support options and energy efficiency ideas as well as making our council homes cheaper to heat.
“We’ve already processed around 30,000 £100 payments to households thanks to the Welsh Government winter fuel support scheme.
“However, the help families need to deal with the cost of living crisis can only be fixed by decisive action by the UK Government.”
The Council is offering free advice to anyone looking to cut the cost of their energy bills every Thursday between 12pm and 6pm.