GB News paused for pressing breaking information as Brits face main summer season monetary blow
GB News was interrupted by a breaking news alert as Ofgem confirmed the energy price cap will rise from July, leaving average households paying £221 more a year
GB News was interrupted for huge breaking news(Image: GB News)
GB News viewers were hit with a sudden breaking news alert as millions of Brits were dealt a devastating financial blow ahead of the summer. Breakfast presenters Mark White and Ellie Costello interrupted regular programming on to deliver the grim update that energy bills are set to skyrocket yet again.
Broadcasting the emergency announcement on Wednesday, Costello said: “Millions of households are facing another energy bill blow this summer.” The shock spike comes after energy regulator Ofgem confirmed a massive increase to the energy price cap, largely driven by surging gas costs.
Detailing the damage to hard-pressed Brits, White said: “Ofgem has confirmed the price cap will rise again from July, with gas bills jumping by 24 per cent as the average household faces paying around £18 a month.”
The latest price hike means a typical household using both gas and electricity will see their annual bills surge by £221, bringing the devastating new yearly total to £1,862.
While gas bills are set to explode by 24 per cent, Ofgem noted that electricity bills will see a slightly smaller increase of around five per cent.
The new price cap will impact 33 million households across England, Scotland and Wales, while Northern Ireland operates under a separate regulatory system.
Responding to the crisis, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband issued a statement blaming global conflicts for the sudden financial hit.
Mr Miliband said: “The rise in the price cap because of a war we did not choose is deeply unwelcome news for households across the country.
We know people were under pressure before this crisis, and that’s why easing that burden is our number one priority.”
Defending the government’s response, the MP said: “To help people facing higher costs, the Chancellor acted last week to freeze fuel duty and made bus travel free for children across England in August.
“We have taken £150 average costs off energy bills for the years ahead, and we have also extended the warm home discount for around six million families.
“We will continue to monitor the situation ahead of the winter and plan for all contingencies. In the immediate term, it is essential to de-escalate this conflict to bring oil and gas prices down, and as Britain faces the second fossil fuel crisis of this decade, we must learn the right lessons.”
Looking toward long-term solutions, Mr Miliband added: “The way to get bills down for good and avoid these price spikes is to go further and faster with this Government’s drive for clean homegrown power we control.
“We are upgrading as many homes as possible ahead of winter with the biggest investment in warm homes in British history.”
Ofgem bosses have defended the price cap increase, pointing the finger at unstable international markets and ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Explaining the decision, Ofgem chief executive Tim Jarvis said: “Today’s price change reflects continued volatility in global energy markets.
“This means higher wholesale gas prices, driven by ongoing conflict in the Middle East, is impacting the price we pay for energy.”
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