Arabic version: إنرجي يو كيه تدعو إلى دعم إضافي لفواتير الشتاء

According to BBC News, Energy UK has called for the government to provide more support for households facing higher energy bills this winter, saying some people need help beyond the existing £150 Warm Home Discount.

The industry body said a better targeted scheme should take account of income, health and energy use. It said the current discount reaches six million customers, but another 2.5 million may need help because medical conditions or draughty homes increase their energy consumption.

Energy UK chief executive Dhara Vyas said persistently high bills and record debt showed that the current system was failing to give people in need the right support. The group proposed a new social discount scheme costing £1.9bn, which it said could provide £450 to some households.

Ofgem is due to announce its energy price cap for October onwards on Wednesday. Cornwall Insight predicts a 4% increase, following a 13% rise in July. The cap covers about 33 million households in England, Wales and Scotland, though individual bills depend on usage and payment method.

Ofgem said customers behind on energy bills owed suppliers a record £4.7bn at the end of last winter. The government said it was cutting VAT on electricity bills and would do everything it could to shield consumers from global energy shocks. National Energy Action chief executive Adam Scorer said a new approach was urgently needed for people in fuel poverty.