We need a fairer approach to energy bills

FAR too many people in Thanet dread their energy bill either thudding onto the doormat or pinging into their inbox. High energy costs are becoming a serious threat to their health, finances, and peace of mind. Bills have recently jumped another 6 per cent, pushing the average household's annual cost perilously close to £2,000. For many, this isn't just a number on a page — it's the difference between heating and eating.

- Polly Billington

Before becoming an MP, I campaigned for cleaner and cheaper energy for years and worked to find solutions. From well before the financial crash of 2008, I've seen first-hand how vulnerable people are when prices surge. We are still feeling the impact of the 2022 gas price crisis, which sent bills skyrocketing.

That's why I've launched a campaign in Parliament to introduce a compulsory energy social tariff - a targeted discount on bills for the most vulnerable, applied consistently by all energy suppliers.