Households in Harrogate and Knaresborough could save around £100 a year on their energy bills under new proposals backed by local MP Tom Gordon.
The Lib Dem MP for Harrogate has backed the party’s plans for an Essential Energy Guarantee.
It would see every household receive a basic energy allowance, equivalent to 50% of average energy consumption, at a discounted rate, helping with the cost of everyday essential energy needs like heating, lighting, and running medical equipment.
This comes as the newest part of a package of common-sense policies put forward by the Liberal Democrats: ensuring all new homes are zero carbon, a new home insulation upgrade programme, breaking the link between electricity and gas prices, and removing the renewables obligation levy.
Overall, the party’s plans would halve energy bills for families in the next decade.
Tom said:
“It’s a national scandal that over 350,000 households in Yorkshire worry every day about keeping their homes warm.
“For too long, consecutive Conservative and Labour governments have relied on short-term solutions.
"The Liberal Democrat plans for an Essential Energy Guarantee is a permanent fix that ensures nobody has to choose between heating and eating, saving the average household in our area £100 a year.
“We would force energy network monopolies to pay back their billions in unexpected profits to fund this support.
"I challenge Labour’s leadership contenders to back our proposal and finally give families in our county the long-term energy security they deserve.”
According to House of Commons Library data, 11.1% of local households in Harrogate and Knaresborough are in fuel poverty, struggling to afford their most basic energy needs.
In Yorkshire and the Humber the figure rises to 14.7%, amounting to a staggering 354,972 households.
This intervention would save the average household £100 a year, while the poorest 20% would save an average of £140.
Families would receive extra allowances for children, and the most vulnerable - such as people with disabilities or on the lowest incomes would receive the discounted rate on all their energy use.
The scheme will be funded by clawing back £5 billion in unexpected windfall profits from monopoly energy network operators.
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