Another 'staggering rise' in energy prices will 'hammer families across Reading,' a Reading Borough Councillor has said.

Labour’s Liz Terry made the comments after Ofgem announced the price cap will rise to 'in the region of £2,800' in October.

Ofgem’s prediction is another huge leap on April’s price cap increase of 54 per cent, or £693 a year, to £1,971.

"This is a staggering rise – and will hammer families across Reading," said Cllr Terry.

"Reading Labour have introduced schemes to support those on the lowest incomes in our town, but the scale of this crisis means that the Conservative Government desperately needs to step up.

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"For months Labour has been calling for an emergency budget with a windfall tax on the bumper profits of oil and gas companies to help families in Reading with their energy bills, but the Conservatives in Westminster have refused.

"Bills are set to more than double in a single year. The case for Labour’s windfall tax has always been clear – now it is undeniable. It’s time for the Conservatives to stop dithering and give families the help they desperately need."

UK companies servicing oil and gas operators have urged the Prime Minister and the Chancellor against enforcing a windfall tax, in an open letter.

Political pressure has mounted on the UK Government for a one-off additional tax to fund support for customers facing higher energy bills.

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In response, 31 organisations in the UK’s offshore energy supply chain have written an open letter calling for an end to speculation about such a tax.

Thus far the Treasury has refused to be drawn on a report in the Financial Times that Chancellor Rishi Sunak is considering a levy on the profits of electricity generators – including wind farms – as well as on oil and gas companies.

Mr Sunak, like Mr Johnson, has expressed reluctance to go down the road of a windfall tax, but he has acknowledged the need to be “pragmatic” in the face of the cost-of-living squeeze.