Energy boss hands truss 10-point plan to slash bills

Ovo Energy boss Stephen Fitzpatrick has stressed that emergency help is needed right away for the poorest households or else the country will face a winter “like never before”. But to assist

the incoming Prime Minister, which the polls indicate will be Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, Mr Fitzpatrick has unveiled a 10-point plan. It comes after industry regulator Ofgem announced the

average household will face an energy price cap of £3,549 a year from October, an 80 percent rise from current levels. The first step in Mr Fitzpatrick’s plan, whose company has 4.5 million

customers, involves bringing forward the energy rebate. The £400 Energy Bill Support Scheme is set to come into effect from October, offering a discount to every household in the UK. Ovo

believes the plan “is not perfect” as “those who can afford higher energy bills will still receive it”. But the company has urged the incoming Government for it to be “paid in full to

households over the next three months”. Under current plans, the winter discount is set to involve payments to consumers over six months made in six instalments. The second phase of the plan

involves setting up a Fuel Poverty Task Force. This would see data brought in from charities, energy companies and Government departments to determine which households are the most in need

of help with bills. The task force would then provide “a safety net that can ensure vulnerable households are supported for as long as needed” and coordinate this “immediately”. The third

step, involves immediately increasing funding for debt advisory charities. While these are a “vital port of call for struggling households”, they are reportedly suffering from a shortfall in

financial resources. READ MORE: NOWHERE TO HIDE: PUTIN NIGHTMARE AS UKRAINE TO DEPLOY MICRO-DRONES The plan also includes scrapping the prepayment meter poverty penalty, which allows sees

customers who use this method to pay bills fork out more than those on direct debt. As prepayment meter customers typically pay around £59 more per year than Direct Debit customers,

according to figures from Ofgem, Ovo has called for the industry regulator to make sure that a “prepayment meter is the cheapest way to pay for energy”. The firm has suggested that Ofgem

lower the unit rates under the Price Cap to do so. Other parts of the plan include reducing bill shocks in a progressive way, abolishing standing charges and insulating homes. Longer term,

Ovo has urged the Government to ensure the Future System Operator has a mandate for securing long-term energy demand. DON'T MISS  Energy: Putin’s plot backfires as UK gas prices PLUMMET

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