Government energy bill support will be targeted based on household income rather than universal assistance, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced.

Government energy bill support will be targeted based on household income rather than universal assistance, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced. The shift marks a departure from the 2022 approach when the wealthiest third of households received over a third of support. With wholesale oil and gas prices surging due to Middle East disruptions, bills are expected to rise significantly after June. Reeves indicated help may arrive in autumn when energy demand peaks, emphasizing the need to protect public finances. She rejected immediate fuel duty or VAT cuts, citing inflation risks, instead calling for resolution to the Iran conflict to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and stabilize global energy supplies.