Portsmouth protest as another “shameless” rise in energy fuel kicks in
The protest will take place in Commercial Road
Union protests will take place in Portsmouth on Thursday as another “shameless” rise in energy fuel kicks in.
Unite is stepping up its Unite 4 Energy for All campaign to end fuel poverty this week with a series of protests, including in Portsmouth, to oppose the “disgraceful” decision to increase fuel prices.
The protest at 11.30am by the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Fountain in Commercial Road will take place to coincide with the date the price of energy will rise by £60 for the average household.
From Thursday, households that pay for energy with direct debit will see a new price cap of £1,723 a year on average from £1,663 - a rise of £60.
Unite members across the country are highlighting that urgent change is needed to the energy sector. Around 12.1 million UK households live in fuel poverty and cannot afford to pay their energy bills – a problem that is set to worsen with the latest price hikes.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Once again, workers and families will suffer higher bills caused by a crisis not of their own making while energy companies shamelessly rake in millions of pounds.
"Ever-increasing energy bills are a complete disgrace. We already have among the highest energy bills in Europe, they should be going down not up. It is time for definitive action - ending profiteering, renationalising energy to end corporate greed and an immediate cut in the energy price cap."
Ofgem reviews the price cap every three months. Soaring energy bills have pushed up inflation putting a further squeeze on household budgets.
Unite research shows that UK energy companies make £30 billion a year in profits. That means the average household pays £500 a year in energy profits.
Yet 43 per cent of UK households are struggling with energy bills. The latest rise in the Energy Price Cap puts gas and electricity bills a staggering 79 per cent higher than they were in winter 2020/21, the union said.
Unite national community coordinator Nicholas Parnell said: “Our members have told us time and time again they are struggling to pay their energy bills. Yet firms and shareholders continue to profit.
"Unite Community's protests will show the strength of feeling at these constant increases to energy prices."