So taxpayers are paying the companies, who have their billions in profits underwritten by the government.
Bravo. 
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Plans for Business coming out
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The whole system is rotten, this was happening before Russia’s invasion but Johnson and the media continue to blame him for our price rises( something like only 3% of our gas comes from Russia).
I understand the world issue contributes to this now, but as stated this was happening before any actions in Ukraine, so whatever will be put into place by Truss, Johnson and his government from late last year/ since could have put steps in action to ease the worries of millions, but chose not too.
And the end result is exactly what you say, the energy companies will have their profits paid for by the taxpayers and the press will laud Truss and co for taking action 
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Got to admit the profits being made (by some) during this does grate a bit.
I certainly welcome the bill freeze but while continuing to subsidise massive profits resulting from a broken set up / model is just not right.
Yes, because other countries that relied more on russian gas than we did are now having to find alternatives. That pushes the price up of those alternatives.
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Just out of interest - why doesn’t the UK have any real gas storage capacities?
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Lack of foresight. They were warned:
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So basically the government tells the energy companies what they can charge, the shortfall then comes from the government to allow the energy companies to keep making their obscene profits and we all get to pay for that still just spread over the next 10-20 years whilst everything is done to keep wage increases to a minimum.
No wonder they want to rip up workers rights, we’re all going to have to work longer and harder for less money in our pockets. Sorry, not all of us, those at the top are getting their pay rises, windfalls and dividends still, it’s just now the government are giving them an even bigger helping hand and making sure we’re all tied into this system for the decade or two.
Handcuffs disguised as help.
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Still not sure what the details are as there still seems to be those the media saying its tax funded, others an extension of the Sunak plan back in April.
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How’s the situation in Bangladesh now ?
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If it’s tax funded, then fine. But who funds the tax?
There’s a case for windfall taxes there. There is also the case for a wealth tax at the top end.
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So the plan is to bankrupt the country in order to divert short term catastrophe. No restructure of the energy sector, no long term investment in domestic, sustainable production. I guess in an idealistic capitalist world the inflated profits being made by the wholesale energy companies would be reinvested into sustainable energy production to protect their market position. It should be easier to get capital for new installations with the high prices decreasing the pay back periods. For some reason I can’t see the that happening, I’m must be getting old and cynical.
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In a sense, isn’t it a quintessentially small-c conservative move? Patch over the problems, without committing to structural change. Since conservatism would imply that the status quo is preferred, with incremental changes if need be, it makes perfect sense for conservatives. Not necessarily the Conservative Party, which has much different priorities.
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Yes good point. Is that they new political paradigm we are in? Borrow whatever is necessary to maintain the status quo. Maybe it’s not that new.
When my parents retired about 5 years ago they bought a winter place in the Caribbean. I remember very well that the discussion we had with them at the time over the financial of it included their concern over the liklihood of considerable increases in the cost of heating the house through the winter. This would have probably been 2015 or so. My parents are decently well read, but arent the most switched on people in the world to this sort of thing so possibly they got very lucky.
EDIT: Was there a focus on fuel access related to the Scottish referendum? Is that what might have turned them on to this?
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I have a retired uncle who spends winters in Thailand for largely similar reasons. I know that there are (or were) many people who would spend the winter months in Spanish seaside resorts because it was cheaper to pay the minimal hotel rates than it was to heat a home in the UK.
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https://twitter.com/docrussjackson/status/1564215104064954370?s=20&t=7e3wbRs8ubho0YBKaHQERA
I believe that the minister who refused to subsidise the repairs to the gas storage facilities was one Liz Truss. Apparently, the UK now pays to store its gas in European storage facilities.
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Do we pay for importing that gas from the storage facility that we pay for?
I like paying for things twice. It is the British way.
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Rough could store 11 days of gas. Not nothing but I am not sure it would have been the difference maker.
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