What is the Welsh Government doing to help care homes with rising energy costs?
Care homes in Wales will be eligible for the UK Government Energy Bill Relief Scheme which will provide a discount on wholesale gas and electricity prices for all non-domestic customers, including businesses, the voluntary sector and public sector. The support will be equivalent to the Energy Price Guarantee put in place for households and will run for an initial six-month period from 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023.
While any level of relief is welcomed, we recognise the uncertainty surrounding the scope and scale of funding beyond the first six months. We would urge the UK Government to commit to a longer-term plan to give more certainty to enable businesses to cope with persistent high energy costs.
The Welsh Government is looking closely at the support on offer and will consider whether further assistance may be needed for businesses in Wales, including helping them to reduce energy usage or increase energy efficiency.