Sheffield Heeley MP Louise Haigh today demanded action to tackle the energy price crisis facing families, as new research showed the scale of the bombshell facing Sheffielders.

New analysis by the Heeley MP estimated that the cost to Sheffield households from April onwards when the energy price cap is lifted could reach a staggering £146 million.

In the House of Commons today, Labour will force a binding vote compelling the government to take action to tackle the energy price crisis.

Ahead of the vote, Shadow Cabinet Minister Louise Haigh slammed the Conservatives for a decade of failure on Britain’s energy sector – and demanded they take action to stop energy bills rising over the next year.

On Sunday Labour set out plans to bring in fully-funded measures now to tackle the shock facing families through scrapping VAT off home energy bills for a whole year – alongside focused and targeted support through increasing and expanding the Warm Homes Discount to 9.3 million people.

A windfall tax on the near-record income of North Sea oil and gas producers would help fund Labour’s package saving most households around £200 or more.

Louise Haigh MP said:

“Tory Ministers must be on another planet if they think Sheffielders can afford this energy price bombshell.

“Families across our city are worried sick about how they will cover the bills, and the Tories are asleep at the wheel.

“Labour will stand up for the millions of families across the country, with a package that won’t just help the average household with around £200 off bills, but also targeted and focused support for those who need it most – including low earners, pensioners and the squeezed middle – with up to £600 in total off their bills.

“Sheffielders are paying the price for a Government that is staggeringly out of touch. Today Labour will force them to act.”

• Analysis by Sheffield Heeley MP estimates that in total Sheffielders are facing a £146,294,400 rise in energy bills when the price cap is lifted in April.

• In February, Ofgem will announce the new price cap for April 2022 onwards. According to energy sector specialist Cornwall Insights, bills could rise by 46%, from £1,277 a year under the current price cap to £1,865 a year. This is an average of £588 per household per annum.

• There are 248,800 households in Sheffield according to ONS population estimates, with an increase of £588 per household per annum come April, Sheffielders will face an estimated £135,197,664 rise in energy bills in total.

• For further information on Labour’s policy proposal to tackle the energy price crisis, see attached policy briefing on Labour’s plan to tackle energy bills.

• Oil and Gas Companies operating in the North Sea to cash in on near-record income, Sky News, Friday 7^th January.