Energy crisis support for small and medium sized businesses, the public sector and charities
The petition of residents of the United Kingdom,
Declares that businesses, public sector organisations and charities are facing unprecedented energy costs which will have dire and serious consequences for staff, customers and beneficiaries; notes that the Energy Bill Relief Scheme is an effective price cap and has been pledged for a six-month period, and that a price cap for domestic energy consumers under the Energy Price Guarantee has been pledged for a period of two years; and further notes that eligibility for the Energy Bill Relief Scheme is restricted to businesses, public sector organisations and charities who have fixed contracts agreed on or after 1 April 2022, as well as to deemed, variable and flexible tariffs and contracts.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to match the Energy Price Guarantee period for domestic consumers of two years for small and medium sized businesses, public sector organisations and charities, allowing certainty and stability in their dealings and further urges the Government to extend the eligibility criteria to allow access to the scheme for businesses, public sector organisations and charities who may have agreed their energy contracts prior to the 1 April 2022.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Anne McLaughlin, Official Report, 22 September 2022; Vol. 719, c. 923.]
[P002768]
Observations The Minister for Climate (Graham Stuart):
The energy price guarantee (EPG) and energy bill relief scheme (EBRS) will be in place from 1 October 2022 until April 2023, to support domestic and non-domestic energy customers.
Looking beyond April, the Prime Minister and the Chancellor have agreed that it would be irresponsible for the Government to expose public finances to unlimited volatility in international gas prices. A Treasury-led review has been launched to consider how to support households and businesses with energy bills after April 2023 and will report in January.