'Budget measures take the sting out of high energy bills - but I know this isn't a silver bullet'

'Budget measures take the sting out of high energy bills - but I know this isn't a silver bullet' 'The only way Britain can take control of its bills and bring them down for good, is to reform our system so we are less exposed to global energy shocks' Add to preferred sources Comments Money opinion Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh 16:00, 01 Nov 2026 Updated 16:16, 01 Nov 2026 View 4 Images 'Affordability as my number one priority,' says Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh (Image: Thomas Krych/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock) Families should never have to worry about whether they can afford to pay their energy bills. ‌ ‌ But too many Mirror readers have been struggling with rising costs, and don't know how to justify putting the heating on.

That isn't right. Energy is an everyday essential, not a luxury. ‌ It's no secret that conflicts beyond our borders are putting pressures on the cost of living at home. But I won't accept that we can't do anything about it. That's why we've acted to support people in this week's Budget. ‌ From January, millions of households will get £100 from their local council straight into their bank account to help them with their energy costs. That's on top of our £150 Warm Home Discount, which around six million households will receive this winter.

We're also extending the cut to VAT on electricity bills until next summer. View 4 Images Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh and Chancellor John Healey (Image: AFP via Getty Images) READ MORE : John Healey says young workers might not get minimum wage boost before next election READ MORE : Alan Milburn warns failing to act on Neets crisis will 'cost lives' And we’re helping struggling households who have fallen into debt with their energy suppliers in the past few years, by giving them immediate relief and offering a route back to sustainable payments. ‌ We're also tackling one of Britain's biggest bugbears – standing charges.

We are removing these from gas bills as early as next year, helping households feel more in control of their costs. And we’re putting in targeted mitigations for the homes which need it. View 4 Images The government has announced a package of measures amid warnings that energy bills could soar 27% in January (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto) ‌ These steps will give people some breathing space in the short term, and take the sting out of high energy bills.

But I want to be straight with readers. I know this isn't a silver bullet. The only way Britain can take control of its bills and bring them down for good, is to reform our system so we are less exposed to global energy shocks. ‌ View 4 Images Miatta Fahnbulleh said a key aim was building energy projects 'in the right places, with the grid to carry it' (Image: Getty Images) And the only way to do that is to get more clean, homegrown power online, and reduce our reliance on expensive, volatile fossil fuels.

That means building projects in the right places, with the grid to carry it, so that new energy projects lower bills for households across the country. Article continues below So on top of giving people breathing space with the cost of living, I will continue driving towards cheap, clean power, with affordability as my number one priority. Because my pledge is to keep doing everything I can to get bills down for good.