People in Birmingham refusing to pay “astronomical” energy bills

People in Birmingham are planning to cancel their energy payments in the face of soaring bills which are projected to reach over £3,000 a year – that’s an extra £250 a month – in October.

They are part of a national campaign to force the government and energy companies to reduce energy prices to an affordable level during a cost of living crisis. The Don’t Pay campaign is calling for at least one million people in the UK to refuse to pay their energy bills on October 1. Average energy bills have already risen from £1,277 to £1,971 since March 2021, and although the government has provided some support, for many the measures don’t go far enough.

Nation Energy Action (NEA) estimates 6.3 million households won’t be able to afford their energy bills this winter, a time when approximately 11,400 deaths are caused by cold. ‘Money Saving Expert’ Martin Lewis spoke to ITV’s Robert Peston last night about the ‘civil unrest’ he expects, specifically in the form of consumers refusing to pay their sky-high bills.

Don’t Pay is taking inspiration from similar mass non-payment movements like the refusal to pay the Poll Tax in the 1980’s, or more recently, the Whitstable residents who refused to pay Southern Water in protest at their dumping of sewage. So far, 4,095 people are involved.

‘The price hikes are astronomical’

One Birmingham resident who is planning to join the consumer strike, said: “The hikes that have happened this year since April are astronomical. By the end of the year, they will be almost triple what people were paying at the beginning of the year. It’s the straw that’s going to break the camel’s back, on many people’s finances. It’s a joke.

“We are not in a position to take this taxation, especially after the pandemic, and after so many people have been through so much trouble in the past few years. It’s just austerity and a lot of people who are contacting the campaign are saying if they pay these bills they won’t be able to afford to eat.”

He recognised people might be concerned about potential risks of withholding payments, but he said: “Well, if we don’t do this, what’s the risk of paying £2,000 extra out of a budget, when there’s 9%, inflation, and we’re not getting any wage increases? That’s a massive risk to families’ abilities to eat.

“More and more people are getting involved, it’s almost overwhelming. More and more people are saying, yes, we’re not going to pay our bills”

At this stage, Don’t Pay is gathering support using social media, zoom, and face to face meetings. The next step will be for people to make pledges not to pay if bills aren’t reduced. If the price hikes go ahead in October, they will cancel their direct debits.

You can find out more here: https://dontpay.uk/

Categories: EconomyLocations:Authorities: Birmingham City Council

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