A plan to ensure energy is affordable for all | Letters

Nils Pratley thinks that the secretary of state, Miatta Fahnbulleh, should “keep things simple” and develop a targeted social tariff to protect vulnerable households from surging energy bills (The UK energy secretary is flirting with a bad idea for bills – the ‘rising block tariff, 14 October). Unfortunately, there is nothing simple about such a scheme. Pratley’s proposal would mean creating a new benefits system inside our privatised energy industry.