PLAID PENARTH CALLS FOR ENERGY COMPANY FOR WALES

Wales is an energy rich nation – yet Welsh households face the most expensive fuel bills on mainland Britain.

With the London Government controlling key energy policy decisions, recent figures show that Welsh customers face an average electricity bill of £503 - more than the UK average of £479.

To make matters worse, gas bills here now average £873 – a charge exceeded only by London – which means that combined energy bills in Wales are topping £1,400 for the year.

Plaid Cymru's Energy Spokesperson Llyr Gruffydd with Jill Evans MEP

Plaid Cymru has called for the full devolution of energy policy to the Welsh Government so that we in Wales can benefit from our own resources.

Welsh control would also enable us to switch to renewable sources of green energy while ensuring the benefits stay in our own communities.

Sadly, to date, Labour MPs in Westminster have failed time and time again to support Plaid Cymru demands for Welsh control over energy projects being brought to Wales.

The Party of Wales calls for the creation of a new energy company – Energy Wales, a not-for-profit company to benefit Welsh customers.

Plaid’s Energy Spokesperson in the National Assembly Llyr Gruffydd said: “Energy prices in Wales are a national scandal.

“Customers here pay more than anywhere in England and Scotland, despite Wales generating more electricity than it uses.”

“It is particularly unfair that customers who, for whatever reason, cannot pay through direct debit face paying through the nose for their gas and electricity.”

“Welsh families are paying the highest energy prices in the UK – and these prices are hitting our less well-off households the hardest.”

“Direct debit customers get the best deals, but Wales has one of the lowest percentages of people on direct debit. “

“Customers need advice as to how they can get cheaper bills, because we in Wales are being ripped off.”

“Plaid Cymru thinks it’s about time we stopped paying over the odds to boost the energy companies’ profits – and we call for a windfall tax on such profits.”

“Wales needs to have a not-for-dividend company for energy, as we have for water, so that any profits can be returned to customers and used to improve energy efficiency.”

“It is time that Wales took full responsibility for energy policy, rather than leaving it in Westminster’s hands.”