Cliff Notes
- The extension of the £150 Warm Home Discount will now support an additional 2.7 million households, bringing the total to over 6 million, including 900,000 families with children.
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasised the importance of this support in alleviating families’ fears regarding rising living costs, despite criticism from Conservatives about coverage limitations.
- While the announcement is seen as “hugely positive,” experts stress the need for a long-term plan beyond the current winter support, as energy bills remain significantly higher than in previous years.
Warm Home Discount extended to 2.7 million more households | UK News
Energy bill discounts of £150 will be extended to another 2.7 million households to help with fuel costs this winter.
It brings the number of households eligible for the Warm Home Discount up to just over 6 million, including 900,000 families with children, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) said.
The changes mean every bill payer on means-tested benefits will qualify, removing the high-cost-to-heat threshold in the current regulations.
It follows a government consultation on expanding the one-off payment to more people struggling with fuel poverty.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “I know families are still struggling with the cost of living, and I know the fear that comes with not being able to afford your next bill.
“Providing security and peace of mind for working people is deeply personal to me as prime minister and foundational for the Plan for Change.
“I have no doubt that, like rolling out free school meals, breakfast clubs and childcare support, extending this £150 energy bills support to millions more families will make a real difference.”
The Conservatives criticised the move, saying the announcement will only cut bills for a quarter of households.
Andrew Bowie, the acting shadow energy secretary, criticised Labour’s green energy drive, claiming that it would increase bills for most people.
“Kemi Badenoch and I have been clear that net zero by 2050 is impossible without bankrupting Britain and making hard-working families worse off,” he said.