Don’t Pay: Government says campaign for energy bill payers’ strike is ‘highly irresponsible’

Campaign group Don’t Pay says thousands are pledging to cancel their direct debits

(PA)

The government has said a campaign for energy customers to go on strike and refuse to pay rising tariffs is “highly irresponsible”.

A campaign group called Don't Pay says 70,000 people have so far pledged to cancel their direct debits for gas and electricity in protest of escalating costs.

The government’s energy price cap, set by regulator Ofgem, is currently set at £1,971 a year for a typical household – but it is predicted to rise to well over £3,000 from 1 October.

There are also warnings that prices could go even higher in April 2023, hitting around £3,700 on current trajectories.

Don’t Pay, which was started by a group of people concerned by rising bills, said the number of people agreeing to its pledge is doubling every week.

“Our politicians and the oil and gas corporations have designed an energy system that only channels money and profits upwards, no matter the human cost,” a spokesperson for Don't Pay said.

“Many of us are already struggling to pay our bills while we see energy companies recording record profits. That can’t be right, and we won’t accept it.

“If the government and energy companies refuse to act then ordinary working people will. Together we will collectively enforce a fair price and the government and oil and gas giants will have to sort it out amongst themselves.”

Some 8.5 million households are expected to be shunted into fuel poverty by the end of 2022, according to campaign group End Fuel Poverty.

The rise in fuel prices is largely caused by a surge in global demand following the reopening of economies post Covid-19, as well as constraints on supply caused by the war in Ukraine.

But record profits posted by energy companies like British Gas owner Centrica have caused anger and have led to accusations that some firms are cashing in on a crisis.

The government has been urged to take further action on top of help already announced by former chancellor Rishi Sunak – but nothing new has been unveiled while ministers focus on the Tory leadership contest.

Currently, the government has announced a £200 temporary discount loan on autumn energy bills for domestic electricity customers, which will be paid back automatically over the next five years.

There will also be a £150 non-repayable council tax rebate for households in England in council tax bands A to D, plus a £144m discretionary fund to support certain households not already eligible for the rebate.

A government spokesperson said: “This is highly irresponsible messaging, which ultimately will only push up prices for everyone else and affect personal credit ratings.

“While no government can control global gas prices, we are providing £37bn of help for households including the £400 discount on energy bills, and £1,200 of direct support for the most vulnerable households to help with the cost of living.”