Axe Net Zero levies to slash £165 off energy bills for Brits, say Tories
Axing Net Zero levies could slash £165 off average electricity bills for struggling Brits, the Tories insisted today.
Shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho has backed ditching the carbon tax and the 'racket' of wind farm subsidies.
In her speech to party conference in Manchester, Ms Coutinho said the moves could 'instantly' cut billions of pounds off costs.
She also ridiculed Ed Miliband, pledging to abolish his 'vanity project' of Great British Energy.
She said: 'The next Conservative Government will axe the carbon tax on electricity generation.
Shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho has backed axing the carbon tax and abolishing the 'racket' of wind farm subsidies
'When Ed Miliband blames gas for high energy bills, what he doesn't tell you is that over 30 per cent of what we pay for gas power is not to pay for fuel, but to pay for a carbon tax that the Government chooses to impose.
'Now, we know that we'll need gas to keep the lights on for decades, so it just adds extra costs to our bills for no reason.
'But here's the rub: the carbon tax inflates the cost of almost all other types of electricity too.
'So, all the wind and solar farm owners pocket those higher prices as higher profits…
'Axing the carbon tax would cut bills instantly by almost £8 billion a year.'
Ms Coutinho branded wind farm subsidies 'the biggest racket going' as she promised her party would scrap them if they won the next general election.
She said: 'We'll scrap Ed Miliband's old rip-off wind farm subsidies.
'Back in 2008, Ed Miliband in his infinite wisdom chose to double the subsidies on offer for wind farms.
'That means when the wind blows, there are wind farms getting up to three times the market price of electricity, and you're paying for that through your bills. It's the biggest racket going.
'We closed the scheme when we were in office, but we'll go further and say we must scrap those subsidies for good.
'Our energy system is not here to prop up the profits of multimillion-pound wind developers at billpayers' expense. It's here to deliver cheap, reliable energy for the country.
'Together, our policies to axe the carbon tax and scrap Ed's rip-off wind subsidies would cut people's electricity bills by 20%
She also ridiculed Ed Miliband (pictured), pledging to abolish his 'vanity project' of Great British Energy
'The average family will save £165 a year off their electricity bill.'
Ms Coutinho mocked Mr Miliband for promising that Great British Energy would lead to a 'mind-blowing' reduction in bills.
The shadow energy secretary said: 'Only Ed Miliband could launch an £8billion energy company that won't produce any energy.
'Let's call it what it is: a vanity project that won't cut bills. So we will scrap it.'
