UK gov't says lights will stay on despite energy price surge
ABC News
Britain’s business secretary says there is no danger that people won’t be able to heat their homes this winter after a surge in natural gas prices forced him to hold emergency talks with energy suppliers and consumer groups
LONDON -- Britain's business secretary said on Monday that there is no danger that people won't be able to heat their homes this winter after a surge in natural gas prices forced him to hold emergency talks with energy suppliers and consumer groups.
Kwasi Kwarteng also assured lawmakers that the government wouldn't bail out failing energy suppliers as a result of the growing crisis. He earlier said that the government is prepared to appoint a special administrator for failed suppliers to ensure gas and electricity keeps flowing until their customers can be moved to new suppliers.
“There is absolutely no question of the lights going out or people being unable to heat their homes,″ Kwarteng told the House of Commons. “There will be no three-day working weeks or a throwback to the 1970s. Such thinking is alarmist, unhelpful and completely misguided.”
Kwarteng said he would make a joint announcement with Britain’s energy regulator later in the day on the government’s plans to address the crisis.
