Don’t let the government fool you, the energy crisis is not fading away as winter ends. Food prices may have been the driving force behind the surprise rise in inflation, up to 10.4 per cent in the year to February, but anyone paying attention to their energy bills will tell you prices aren’t going down either.
Yes, as the days get longer fewer people will freeze to death because they cannot afford to heat their homes properly. But it’s only a temporary respite while millions work out how to cope with their accumulated debt. Winter will return, and prices are set to be twice historic levels for years.
The Energy For All campaign was launched last year by Fuel Poverty Action, and rapidly gained over 650,000 petition signatures. It means each household would receive — free — enough energy for their warmth, washing, lighting, cooking, refrigeration and health needs.
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In a national poll, 75 per cent backed the basic idea, as did the TUC and grassroots organisations like Disabled People Against Cuts. But we needed to prove the vision was achievable.
It is. Energy is only expensive because huge profits are being made. The gas price crisis has not been a crisis of rising costs. It’s been a crisis of shameless greed.
