Government and energy companies blasted by Druridge councillor after warnings of potential blackouts

It comes as a number of energy companies posted soaring profits for the last six months as many households struggle to pay their bills.

Worse still, the latest predictions this week suggested that the energy price cap could soar past £4,000 in January, heaping more pressure on household finances amid the cost of living crisis.

Cllr Scott Dickinson called for action from the Government following the warnings.

The Labour leader, who represents the Druridge Bay ward on Northumberland County Council, referenced power cuts last year caused by Storm Arwen that caused chaos across the North East.

He said: “After seeing the devastation from the black outs caused by Storm Arwen last December the government need to be recalled to the House of Commons and a emergency plan needs to be put in place. After all a crisis like this that’s been heading our way for months doesn’t take a holiday.

“Thousands of homes were left without power for up to seven days in December last year up in Northumberland due to the severe weather we experienced.

"This time around we are facing something different, Ofgem have announced that by January we could be seeing energy prices rise up to £4,400 which will likely see thousands of homes go without power.

”It took a visit from Keir Starmer to Northumberland to even get the issues the north faced onto the National agenda, and I worry that the real poverty, the hard-working families being pushed over the edge are not at the forefront of the Governments mind. We already have pressures during winter in Northumberland that they couldn’t possibly understand.

“A plan needs put in place but the prime minister and the chancellor are nowhere to be seen. Millions of people around the United Kingdom are already struggling due to the cost of living, Nobody seems to want to take action down at Number 10.

“Over the last few months, we have seen oil and gas companies become richer while everyone else struggles. Some families are having to choose whether to feed their families or warm their homes. It is time to put the people of this nation first and take action.”

Eon revealed its profits have soared to £3.4 billion in the first half of this year. It comes after BP announced it had raked in £7 billion in the second quarter of the year and British Gas owners Centrica posted £1.3 billion for the first six months of 2022.

Eon and Centrica were among a number of suppliers to meet outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson and chancellor Nadhim Zahawi earlier this week for crunch talks.

Following the meeting, Mr Johnson said: “Countries around the world are feeling the impact of Putin’s damaging war in Ukraine. We know that this will be a difficult winter for people across the UK, which is why we are doing everything we can to support them and must continue to do so.

“We will keep urging the electricity sector to continue working on ways we can ease the cost of living pressures and to invest further and faster in British energy security.

“We are continuing to roll out government support over the coming months, including the second £324 instalment of the cost of living payment for vulnerable households, extra help for pensioners and those with disabilities, and the £400 energy bills discount for all households.”

Cllr Dickinson also called for joint working at the council to minimise the impact on Northumberland residents.

He added: “I have called for a strategic cross-party task force to look at its response to the cost of living crisis over winter, as vulnerable people look to the Council for support. We can all look at these “inequalities summits” aimed at long-term benefits but ask ourselves what are we doing now in this crisis as a Council?”

Responding to those comments, council leader Glen Sanderson said: “We absolutely understand that inequalities and the rising cost of living is one of the most important problems facing residents in our county.

“We are taking the current situation extremely seriously and this council has made tackling inequalities a key priority – the first time this has ever happened at the county council.

“We are actively supporting individuals across the county through our fantastic Northumberland Communities Together team and we are working up new projects and plans to do whatever we can to support people. This includes increasing our funding contribution to the Citizens Advice Bureau so they can help provide support and advice to more people in need.”