MORE than one million families are in line for a £100 boost to help with crippling heating costs.
Ministers announced today that households that do not benefit directly from Liz Truss’ energy support package will get the help.
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Homes that use heating oil rather than gas will get the additional £100 on top of the £400 bills discount already announced.
More than 1.6million homes are thought to currently rely on heating oil.
The Business Department said: “The Government will also provide an additional payment of £100 to households across the UK who are not able to receive support for their heating costs through the Energy Price Guarantee.
“This might be because they live in an area of the UK that is not served by the gas grid and is to compensate for the rising costs of alternative fuels such as heating oil.”
It comes as part of a new support package for struggling business facing rocketing energy bills.
Firms are not supported by the price cap and so are exposed to soaring gas costs leaving many on the brink of bankruptcy.
But throwing them a lifeline, Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg today announced a cap in the wholesale price to stop firms paying unaffordable rates.
The Government will cap energy costs for businesses at £211 per MWh for electricity and £75 per MWh for gas.
It says it will more than halve the wholesale prices set to be unleashed this winter.
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PM Ms Truss said: “I understand the huge pressure businesses, charities and public sector organisations are facing with their energy bills, which is why we are taking immediate action to support them over the winter and protect jobs and livelihoods.”
Earlier this month she announced a similar scheme for households so the typical family will pay no more than £2,500 a year on bills.
This Friday Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng will unveil his mini-Budget to provide more relief to hard-up families.
He will slash the National Insurance rate and could even cut Stamp Duty to help out first-time buyers.
