Truss accused of ‘repeatedly deceptive’ public over power payments

Liz Truss has been accused of “repeatedly deceptive” the general public by claiming nobody can pay power payments above £2,500.

Throughout her morning broadcast spherical, the prime minister instructed BBC Radio Kent the federal government had stepped in to make sure “no person is paying gas payments of greater than £2,500”.

She later repeated the declare to BBC Radio Leeds, telling the programme: “The motion we have taken on power payments will imply that Leeds and different individuals in West Yorkshire aren’t going to be dealing with power payments of £6,000 which is what was forecast, they’ll be, by the power worth assure, the utmost might be £2,500”.

She additionally made the identical declare on BBC Radio Nottingham.

Nevertheless, Martin Lewis, founding father of MoneySavingExpert.com, on Wednesday warned individuals the cap solely applies to the quantity power corporations can cost prospects per unit of gasoline and electrical energy.

The £2,500 determine refers back to the most quantity a “typical” family can pay, primarily based on common power utilization.

So some households can pay extra, and a few can pay much less relying on their property kind and the quantity of power they use.

Looking for to clear up the “confusion”, Mr Lewis wrote on Twitter: “THERE IS NO £2,500 CAP ON ENERGY BILLS.

“As a substitute the brand new 1 Oct assure, just like the outdated caps, limits every day cost & unit charges. So use extra, pay extra. £2,500 is simply what somebody with avg use’d pay.”

The professional recommended the prime minister’s “miscommunication” may put susceptible individuals in danger.

He stated: “The explanation it’s so vital NOT to speak that there’s a £2,500 cap. Is it dangers some individuals, presumably susceptible aged individuals, pondering they’ll hold the warmth on max all winter, they usually will not pay greater than a specific amount.”

Reality-checking web site Full Reality, which wrote to Ms Truss after she made the same declare to CNN on Monday, accused the prime minister of getting “repeatedly misled” listeners.

Will Moy, chief government of Full Reality, stated: “We wrote to the prime minister about getting this mistaken solely yesterday.

“The federal government’s power plans will have an effect on each family in Britain this winter. And but Liz Truss has repeatedly misled listeners this morning.

“She should now publicly right her mistake to verify persons are not misled about their power costs and hit with sudden and unaffordable power payments this winter.”

Households have been urged to take their power meter readings – and attempt to submit them – forward of costs rising from 1 October.

This can stop companies from estimating utilization and charging for power used earlier than 1 October however on the larger charge.