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Energy Costs 2026-01-22
22 January 2026
Lead MP
Bill Esterson
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
Economy
Other Contributors: 5
At a Glance
Bill Esterson raised concerns about energy costs 2026-01-22 in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Welcomes the Government’s decision to reduce energy bills by £150 from April but emphasises that high energy costs are not easy solutions. The report recommends targeted funding for warm home discount, reforms in cold weather payments, recovery of excess profits made by network companies and usage of data to target support for those needing it.
Claire Young
LD
Thornbury and Yate
Questions the Chair about making heat pumps and heat storage more affordable as a measure in the clean flexibility road map.
Melanie Onn
Lab
Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes
Welcomes the Government’s agreement to be more ambitious with smart metre roll-out but questions if more can be done to rekindle consumer confidence in them.
Richard Tice
Reform
Boston and Skegness
Questions the effectiveness of the rush towards renewable energy, noting that bills are still higher than pre-election promises. Asks when renewable energy will bring down bills as promised.
Chris Hinchliff
Lab
North East Hertfordshire
Highlights the need for publicly owned generation to produce electricity at lower prices and drive down costs across the market.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Asked about the impact of energy crises on older people in Northern Ireland, noting that around 40,000 older individuals—over 10% of the elderly population there—are living in poverty due to high energy costs. Emphasised the life-threatening nature of severe energy crises for this vulnerable group.
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