Bosses from British Gas owner Centrica PLC (LSE:CNA), EDF, Octopus Energy and other energy companies are meeting a government minister today to discuss measures to support vulnerable households this winter.
Representatives from industry bodies including Energy UK, Ofgem and Citizens Advice will also participate in the discussions with energy communities minister Miatta Fahnbulleh.
The meeting is likely to focus on how suppliers can assist households already in energy debt and prevent others from falling into it during the colder months, according to newspaper reports.
Last Friday, energy regulator Ofgem announced an increase in the household energy price cap in October by 10% to £1,717 for a typical household in England, Scotland and Wales. This compares to the October cap last year of £1,834, in £3,549 in October 2022 and £1,277 in 2021.
The new government has also announced plans for pensioners who do not receive benefits to have their winter fuel payments withdrawn, aiming to save approximately £1.4 billion this financial year, though some campaigners have warned the policy could lead to increased hardship for vulnerable elderly individuals.
The End Fuel Poverty coalition said the move "has the potential to create a public health emergency".
Yesterday, Prime Minister Kier Starmer said: “I didn’t want to means-test the winter fuel payment, but it was a choice that we had to make, a choice to protect the most vulnerable pensioners while doing what is necessary to repair the public finances.”