VALE of Clwyd MP Dr James Davies has praised measures announced by the UK Government to support businesses and charities, and also the public sector, such as schools and hospitals.

The Government’s Energy Bill Relief Scheme, which was unveiled by Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg last week, will provide a discount on wholesale gas and electricity prices for all non-domestic customers whose current gas and electricity prices have been significantly inflated in light of global energy prices.

This support will be equivalent to the Energy Price Guarantee put in place for households and will be worth up to half the price of expected energy prices this winter.

Welcoming the action, Dr Davies said: “This package of unprecedented assistance for the whole of the UK provides the certainty families and business owners need to help them manage their energy bills.

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“I know businesses, charities, schools and hospitals, and others, in the Vale of Clwyd have been extremely concerned about how they were going to meet soaring energy costs, with some businesses fearing that the escalating costs would force them to close. The Energy Bill Relief Scheme will therefore be a huge relief to many in the area.

“It will apply to fixed contracts agreed on or after April 1, as well as to deemed, variable and flexible tariffs and contracts. It will apply to energy usage from October 1 2022 to March 31 2023, running for an initial six month period for all non-domestic energy users. The savings will be first seen in October bills, which are typically received in November.

“As with the Energy Price Guarantee for households, customers do not need to take action or apply to the scheme to access the support. Support (in the form of a p/kWh discount) will automatically be applied to bills.”