Over the last 10 years, energy bills have doubled for the average UK home. No wonder 1 in 4 households are in fuel poverty, and even the 'middle classes' are feeling the pinch.
So, whenever the energy companies announce their latest above-inflation annual price rises, there are howls of derision from all quarters.
This year, however, the power companies have resorted to diversionary tactics. This year, whilst announcing rises over 3 times the rate of inflation, they've emphasised that so-called green levies are part of the rise.
Suddenly the right-wing press are all over it (They hate anything 'green'). Then the Conservative's right-wing MPs join in (Guess what? They hate anything 'green' too). Now their leadership seems be taking up the call.
Cost of Living in the UK has become such a political hot-potato lately that the energy companies' seemingly cynical tactics have sparked off a feeding frenzy.
It now seems almost inevitable that the chancellor, George Osborne, will announce cuts in the green levy in his Autumn statement, as his increasingly unpopular government desperately cling to votes.
Trouble is, the green levy is not what everyone assumes it is. Sure, a small proportion is for renewables, but most of it goes towards insulating the homes of low income families - The people who can least afford the spiraling cost of energy.
Is it really necessary to screw these people over to sell newspapers, bolster votes, and make energy companies look better?
(See here for what's really going on. See here for why it's unfair. See here for why fuel poverty needs to be eliminated)
Update: The government, as predicted, have annonced the ending of the green levy on our energy bills. Thankfully it seems the government intends paying for the schemes behind it themselves.....or, at least, that's what they say. Bet they try and trim the budget anyway like everything else.
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