Residents in Brentwood face a £649.00 rise in energy bills in April, new figures reveal

Brentwood is set to be hit hard by the expected rise in energy bills in April, new figures have revealed.

Analysis by the Liberal Democrats shows that the average yearly bill for homeowners in Brentwood is set to sky rocket by £649 the equivalent of £54 a month once the new energy price cap comes into effect.

This is above the forecasted national average uplift in bills for each household of £598 per year, meaning people in Brentwood are set to be hit harder than most across the country.

Last year the average homeowner in Brentwood paid £822 for their annual energy bill. Under the new price cap coming into force in April this figure is set to rise to £1471.

The energy price gap is expected to be around £1,865, according to energy experts. More misery looms on the horizon for residents in Brentwood unless action is taken to help with the cost of bills, with the price cap set to rise to £2,000 when it is revised in the Autumn.

Brentwood Liberal Democrats are calling for a one off "Robin Hood" tax on the super-profits of oil and gas giants, to fund an emergency package of support for local residents facing eye -watering increases to their heating bills.

This would include the doubling and expansion of the Warm Home Discount to those in receipt of Universal Credit or Pension Credit, giving 5,762 household in Brentwood £300 each off their heating bills this year.

The Liberal Democrats are also calling for a doubling of the Winter Fuel Allowance, helping 30,800 people in Brentwood keep their homes warm.

Cllr David Kendall Lib Dem Housing & Environment spokesman on Brentwood Borough Council said:

"These figures reveal that people in Brentwood are facing eye-watering increases to their energy bills in April, while the Government is just sitting on it's hands.

Many pensioners and other local residents are deeply worried about their next heating bill landing on their doormats.

"The Liberal Democrats have set out a clear plan to give thousands of people in our area £300 each off their heating bills this year. It's time Boris Johnson stopped taking our local communities for granted and offered pensioners and families the support they need to cope with energy prices hikes"

Source: Energy efficiency of Housing, England and Wales, local authority districts - Office for National Statistics - March 2021