Nicola Sturgeon: energy price cap increase cannot be allowed

Nicola Sturgeon has warned that the impending rise in the energy price cap must not “be allowed to continue”.

The Prime Minister has warned that many families will face “misery and devastation” if home energy prices rise in October.

The price cap is expected to reach £3,576 in October and will gradually increase to over £4,000 by the new year before peaking at £6,000 in April.

The cap is currently £1,971 for the average household, with Ofgem due to announce the latest price cap on Friday.

Speaking on BBC Scotland’s The Sunday Show, Ms Sturgeon said the country was facing “imminent doom” with rising energy bills.

She will convene a summit with major energy suppliers including Scottish Power, OVO Energy and E.ON.

Ms Sturgeon said: ‘This further increase in people’s energy bills cannot be allowed because it prevents people from meeting basic needs for themselves and their families, but it also continues to fuel inflation , which of course, of course, is the cause of the problem in the first place.

“I want to make sure that the Scottish Government, together with the energy companies, other stakeholders in Scotland, that we are really doing everything we can with our own hands to help here.”

She urged the UK government to work with ministers at Holyrood to resolve the crisis.

She said the renationalisation of energy companies “should be on the table”, but stressed that the Scottish government did not have the powers to act.

She added: ‘I want us to come together to call on the UK Government to take the action that only they can take.

“There is an impending doom already unfolding, but it will get worse.

“It will cause misery and devastation, it will cause loss of life if no real action is taken to stem this crisis.”

A UK government spokesperson said: ‘We are offering a £400 rebate on energy bills this winter and £1,200 in direct support for the most vulnerable households.

“Although no government can control global gas prices, more than 22 million households are protected by the price cap which continues to protect households from even higher prices.”