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15
Feb 2022
Energy crisis could mean £796 increase for Harrogate district households
Harrogate district residents will be among the hardest hit by the energy crisis with households paying around £796 more this year, according to analysis by the Liberal Democrats.
The Lib Dems have hit out at government proposals to deal with soaring energy bills and urged Chancellor Rishi Sunak to scrap the planned National Insurance tax hike, which will pile further pressure on household budgets from April.
Their calls come as figures show the Harrogate district will be the 12th hardest hit area in England during the energy price hikes.
Bryn Griffiths
Councillor Bryn Griffiths, leader of the Lib Dems on North Yorkshire County Council, said:
Windfall tax
The Lib Dems are also calling for a windfall tax on big profit oil and gas companies, something Spain’s left-wing government has already announced.
However, the UK government has argued that a one-off tax like this would stop companies investing as it also defended its own plans for a repayable £200 discount on all energy bills and a further £150 council tax rebate for most households.
Andrew Jones
Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones said:
Read more:
- Zero Carbon Harrogate receives £125,000 to make buildings more energy efficient
- Administrators reveal state of Harrogate firm CNG Energy’s finances
Council tax rebate
The council tax rebate will apply from April to homes in council tax bands A to D, benefiting around 52,000 households in the Harrogate district.
It will be made directly by Harrogate Borough Council and will not need to be repaid.
The further £200 discount on energy bills will apply to all domestic electricity customers from October, with the government meeting the costs.
However, unlike the council tax rebate, this discount will be automatically recovered from people’s bills in equal £40 instalments over a five year period from 2023, when it is hoped global wholesale gas prices will have come down.
Announcing the measures earlier this month, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said:
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