The government must increase its energy bills discount by at least 150% or risk pushing millions of households into financial distress.
That is the warning from consumer group Which? ahead of Friday’s announcement of the energy price cap for the three months from October.
It comes as British Gas announced it will donate 10% of its profits to help its poorer customers cope with soaring bills for the “duration of the energy crisis” – putting £12m this autumn into an existing support fund.
The firm, Britain’s largest energy supplier, enjoyed £1.3bn operating profits in the first six months of 2022, five times the amount from the same period last year of £262m.
Its owner Centrica said thousands of households would get grants ranging from between £250 to £750. Customers in fuel poverty and with less than £1,000 in savings are eligible to apply for a grant.
Read more: New PM told to ‘think the unthinkable’ on energy bills – as British Gas announces plan to help
