West Lothian households to benefit as energy price cap falls, says MP
Households across the Livingston constituency and West Lothian are set to see their energy bills fall from April after the energy regulator Ofgem confirmed a 7% reduction in the energy price cap.
The reduction follows changes made at the Budget to remove £150 of policy costs from energy bills, delivering on the UK Labour government’s commitment to bring down the cost of living.
For a typical dual-fuel household paying by direct debit, the annual bill under the price cap will fall by £117, from £1,758 to £1,641. That equates to around £10 a month for households using a typical amount of gas and electricity.
Livingston constituency MP Gregor Poynton welcomed the announcement, describing it as “a significant step forward” for families in West Lothian.
“Energy bills have been far too high for far too long. This 7% cut in the price cap is welcome news for households across Livingston who are still feeling the pressure of the cost-of-living crisis.
“At the Budget, the Government acted to strip £150 of unnecessary costs out of bills. Today’s announcement shows that promise being delivered in practice.
“We said we would bring bills down and that is exactly what we are doing.”
From April, households will see bills fall year-on-year, marking the largest reduction in the energy price cap since last summer. The cut represents meaningful progress in delivering more affordable energy and putting money back into people’s pockets across the Livingston constituency and West Lothian.
The cap applies to millions of households in England, Wales and Scotland on standard variable tariffs, with savings varying depending on energy usage. Those who use more electricity, including some vulnerable households reliant on medical equipment, are expected to see proportionately even larger reductions.
In addition to the price cap cut, six million households are receiving £150 through the Warm Home Discount this winter, providing further targeted support to those most in need.
Gregor Poynton MP added:
“This will provide much-needed support for families across the Livingston constituency and West Lothian, particularly as many other household costs remain high.
“But we recognise there is more to do. That’s why the Government is investing at scale in clean, homegrown power, from a new generation of nuclear to record levels of wind and solar, so we are no longer at the mercy of volatile fossil fuel markets.
“Our goal is clear: to reduce bills by £300 by 2030 and end the era of permanently high energy costs for good.”
Although bills remain around a third higher than before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the UK Labour Government argues that sustained investment in domestic energy generation and reform of policy costs will deliver long-term affordability and energy security.
Households are still being encouraged to review their tariffs and consider switching providers where appropriate, as competition in the market has increased in recent months.
Gregor Poynton said:
“Families in West Lothian deserve stability, fairness and lower bills. Today’s announcement is a step in the right direction and we will not stop until energy bills are down for good.”