Household energy bills are set to rise by another £96 per year because of the government’s plans to build eight new nuclear power plants, new figures have revealed.
This comes as the government has released its long awaited energy strategy which focused on expensive, new nuclear rather than ambitious plans to expand onshore wind, one of the cheapest forms of renewables.
EDF has previously estimated that the cost of funding Sizewell C nuclear power plant in Suffolk will add up to £12 a year to household energy bills for every family in the country at its peak. The government has now confirmed that each new nuclear plant station will add around £1 per month to energy bills during construction.
There are just over 27 million households in England, Wales and Scotland, meaning an estimated bill of £2.6 billion a year is set to be landing on households because of the government’s plans. This comes on top of the energy price cap rising by an average of £700, with further increases expected in the Autumn.
The government recently passed a new law which will allow them to add levies to energy bills to fund new nuclear plants. Liberal Democrats attempted to exempt the most vulnerable from these additional levies, but the Conservatives rejected these changes.
Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: “People are facing eye-watering hikes to energy bills and are looking to the government for urgent help now.
“But instead of rapidly reducing energy costs by expanding onshore wind and insulating homes, the government’s nuclear plans will add almost £100 to annual household bills.
“This is an energy betrayal that will add to the pain facing households on the brink. Instead of offering the help families need, the Conservatives seem happy for people’s record energy bills to get even higher.”