[user104658]

I think the idea is very well thought out, because it directly tackles the energy comanies' dubious claim that the hikes are to pre-empt a rise in the cost of delivering energy to homes (they've been claiming this for years and yet their profits continue to rise... funny, that) and so they really have no comeback. If their claim is true and the increases are to fund outgoings then they will not lose money to this sort of tax. The only reason they will have to pay through the nose is if their insane price hikes end up generating huge amounts of profit for the companies themselves (almost a certainty).

But of course the current government are against the idea... they've proven time and time again that they'll protect the financial interests of the rich over the rights of actual people, by default.

"Cold Weather Payments" are an absolute joke. They do absolutely nothing to help normal, working families having to choose between a cold home and a massive financial squeeze over the winter.

We had a 4 month old when the cold weather hit last year so skimping on gas wasn't really an option, and it went on for a good 3 months. Our dual fuel direct debit has been at £120 a month since then to cover it (and that's with a very warm summer and almost zero gas use for over 4 months). If it's as cold as predicted this year, god knows what that direct debit will look like by spring. Are we eligible for "cold weather payments"? Are we ****. And we're certainly not so well off that we don't feel the hit of potentially a £150+ energy bill every month.