Energy giants to hand shareholders £10bn – equivalent of £363 per UK household – as cost of living crisis spirals

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EMBARGOED TO 0001 FRIDAY AUGUST 12 File photo dated 24/09/21 of queues at a Shell garage in Taplow, near Maidenhead, Berkshire, as the surge in fuel costs for Premier League fans driving to away matches this season has been illustrated by new analysis. PA Photo. Issue date: Friday August 12, 2022. Supporters of champions Manchester City living near the Etihad Stadium can reach just five of the league's other 19 stadiums on ¿20 of petrol during the 2022/23 campaign, RAC Foundation figures shared with the PA news agency show. See PA story TRANSPORT Fuel. Photo credit should read: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire

SHELL and BP shareholders are set to receive a mega £10 billion payout – the equivalent of £363 per UK household.

The eye watering payment comes as experts warn the energy price cap could soar to over £3,300 in October, a whopping £350 rise per household over the last three months of the year. 

Shell and BP will fork out £10 billion to shareholders as the company’s profits soar

Rachel Reeves wants the government to use a meeting with energy bosses to close a loophole in the windfall tax

And in April next year bills could reach more than £4,400, according to analysis by Cornwall Insights.

Hitting out at fat cat energy bosses, Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves told HOAR: “The country is in the grip of a catastrophic energy crisis and the Conservatives are giving handouts to the oil and gas giants, who are throwing money at their shareholders.

“This is a scandalous failure of the government.”

Labour has called on the government to use a meeting with oil and gas giants this morning to shut a major loophole in the energy windfall tax.

An allowance in the levy means that for every £1 invested, 91.25p will go back to companies in additional tax relief. 

Ms Reeves added: “The government should be ashamed this loophole existed in the first place. 

“This isn’t right at a time when people are worried sick about how they’ll pay their bills.”  

Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi and Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng  will ask energy bosses today to submit a breakdown of their expected profits and payouts, as well as their investment plans for the next three years.

A Shell spokesperson said: “We understand the worry for millions of people about how high energy costs are challenging their household budgets – and the need for support to help make ends meet, and we will work with the government on potential solutions.

“Shell is using its financial strength to invest in secure energy supplies that the world needs.”

Did you miss our previous article…
https://hellofaread.com/politics/rishi-sunak-brands-liz-truss-immoral-after-she-compared-him-to-gordon-brown/