Suppliers pile pressure on government over energy bills

The UK's energy suppliers' trade body, Energy UK, has urged the government to take immediate action to support households facing rising energy bills this winter. Domestic gas prices increased recently, with forecasts predicting a 16% rise in January, potentially pushing the average annual bill to nearly £2,000. The 4% October increase affected households on variable tariffs, and high wholesale prices driven by international conflicts, including the Middle East and shipping disruptions, have offset previous government support measures. Energy UK warns of a potential second energy crisis similar to 2022, citing rising customer debt and the need for urgent intervention.