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Hot issue: Energy bills

How do we bring energy bills down?

The price cap rose 4% to £1,723 a year on 1 October. VAT is off electricity until March 2027, worth about £45. Cornwall Insight forecasts a jump to about £1,999 in January after gas prices spiked, and pressure is on for more help in the 28 October Budget.

£1,999forecast typical yearly energy bill from January 2027, up from £1,723 now (Cornwall Insight, 7 October 2026)
Give your answerFree. No account needed. Then see how Britain split.

The options

  1. Scrap net zero and the green levies

    Drop climate targets and the charges on bills that pay for green schemes, and back gas and North Sea drilling to cut prices.

    Backed by: Reform UKConservatives

    Pick this option in the game
  2. Closest to what the government is doing now

    Short-term help now, keep building clean power

    VAT off electricity this winter while pressing on with wind, solar and a new public grid company, with more help possible in the Budget.

    Backed by: Labour

    Pick this option in the game

  3. Cheap tariff for those in need and free insulation

    A lower social tariff for poorer and vulnerable homes, free insulation and upgrades for low-income households, and break the link to gas prices.

    Backed by: Liberal Democrats

    Pick this option in the game

  4. Go all in on renewables and phase out gas

    Publicly fund a huge insulation drive and move to 100% renewable power as fast as possible, phasing out fossil fuels.

    Backed by: Greens

    Pick this option in the game

What happens next

  1. If green levies come off bills

    Bills fall by whatever policy costs remain, though about £150 a year was already moved into general tax from April 2026. Schemes they paid for must be funded another way or stop.

    Budget 2025 figures; supporters and critics differ on what should go
  2. If Britain keeps building wind and solar

    Upfront costs for turbines, grid lines and storage are high, but once built they burn no fuel, which backers say cuts exposure to gas price spikes over time.

    The Climate Change Committee and the renewables industry argue
  3. If gas still sets the price of power

    Even cheap wind power is sold at a price set by gas for much of the time, so bills track gas. Changing how the market works could pass more of the savings on.

    Energy economists, including UK Energy Research Centre analysis
  4. If net zero targets are dropped

    Supporters expect lower costs and more gas investment. Critics warn clean energy investors would pull back and the UK would lean harder on imported fuel.

    Supporters of scrapping argue; clean energy investors warn
  5. If homes are insulated at scale

    Around half of homes in England are below energy rating C. Cutting waste lowers bills for good, but a national scheme costs billions and past schemes had quality problems.

    English Housing Survey; National Audit Office reviews of past schemes
  6. If a social tariff is brought in

    Around 3 million households in fuel poverty in England would pay less. Someone covers the gap: either other customers through their bills or taxpayers.

    Government fuel poverty figures; consumer groups

The arguments

The case for cheaper energy first

  • UK industrial electricity prices are among the highest in the developed world, which pushes factories and jobs abroad.
  • The UK makes about 1% of global emissions. Making energy dearer at home may just move production, and its emissions, overseas.
  • Gas will be needed for decades for heating and backup power. Using more of our own is cheaper and more secure than importing it.
  • Wind and solar need backup, storage and costly new grid lines, costs that headline price comparisons often leave out.

The case for going green faster

  • The 2022 price shock came from gas, not green policy. The way out of volatile bills is to depend less on gas.
  • Wind and solar are now among the cheapest new sources of power, and once built they need no fuel bought from abroad.
  • Clean energy is a growing industry. Rolling back targets risks losing investment and jobs to countries that press on.
  • Insulating homes saves money every year, cuts emissions and improves health, especially for the poorest households.

The trade-offs

Questions to ask yourself

Sources

  1. payplan.com /blog/ofgem-energy-price-cap-hits-three-year-high/
  2. restless.co.uk /money/everyday-finance/energy-bills-forecast-to-hit-nearly-2000-a-y…
  3. cotality.com /uk/insights/articles/uk-conference-season-reveals-deeply-divided-cl…
  4. ice.org.uk /news-views-insights/latest-news/2026-uk-party-conferences-infrastru…

Facts as of October 2026. Party positions reflect each party's current stated policy and may change.

Britain is split. Now you decide.

Pick your side on energy bills, guess how the country answered, then see where you really line up with the parties.

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