A SURVEY carried out in Warrington has shown that the biggest single concern for local people is the rising cost of energy bills.
The survey, involving distribution of 55,000 “cost of living” leaflets in Warrington South, showed that 58 per cent of residents said their energy bills had gone up even more than other bills such as food and childcare.
It was carried out by Labour Parliamentary candidate Nick Bent and his team.
The results were revealed as Shadow Energy and Climate Change secretary Caroline Flint visited Warrington.
She joined Mr Bent to meet local residents at St Werburgh’s Community Hub.
Ms Flint has championed Labour’s policy to freeze energy bills and the policy to fast-track legislation giving Ofgem the power to cut energy bills – which was debated in Parliament this week.
This plan would give the energy regulator the power to force energy companies to cut their prices when wholesale costs fall.
Mr Bent said in the last year, wholesale energy costs have fallen by between nine per cent and 20 per cent but no supplier had reduced the price of their standard tariff.
Nick Bent said: “Thousands of people in Warrington have been ripped off by the big energy firms who never seem to pass on falls in wholesale prices to customers. Labour’s proposal would have changed that, but complacent Tory and LibDem MPs sadly blocked it.”
Ms Flint said: “The next Labour government is committed to making big changes in our energy market, freezing energy prices until 2017 so that bills can fall but not rise, resetting the market and bringing in a tough new regulator to stop rip-offs in the future. But consumers need action on energy bills right now.
“This zombie Government has had no new meaningful legislation for months. But, with this vote Parliament could have required the government to bring forward fast-track legislation. It would mean we could still do some good before Parliament is dissolved before the General Election.”
Pictured: Nick Bent with Caroline Flint and Cllr Les Morgan in Warrington.
Energy bills are biggest worry
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
