The Electricity Bills Taskforce, a coalition convened by the independent climate change think tank E3G, has published a package of reforms that it says could cut electricity bills for households and businesses by 20% by 2030. The Taskforce estimates the measures would save the average household more than £300 a year.
With energy bills expected to rise again this winter, the Taskforce is urging ministers to use next week’s Autumn Budget to move policy levies from electricity bills into general taxation. It said this would deliver an immediate £150 saving for households and cut electricity costs for businesses by 16%.
A coalition formed in response to rising costs
E3G formed the Taskforce at the end of 2025 in response to the sustained rise in electricity costs facing households across the UK. Its more than 20 members have spent the past 11 months developing what the group describes as practical, costed proposals that can be delivered by 2030.
Members include the energy suppliers Octopus Energy, E.ON, OVO and Good Energy, along with the manufacturers’ organisation Make UK and the Energy Intensive Users Group. Consumer and charity members include Age UK, the End Fuel Poverty Coalition and Ashden.
Environmental and policy groups taking part include Greenpeace, WWF, Green Alliance, the New Economics Foundation, Sustainability First and the Zero Carbon Forum. The Heat Pump Association UK, The MCS Foundation, the University of Oxford School of Geography and the Environment and the UK Energy Research Council have also signed up.
Eight measures to cut electricity bills
The Taskforce’s package sets out eight areas for government action, with the following estimated savings in 2030:
- Levies: move all levies from electricity bills to general taxation, lowering bills by £150 per household and 16% for businesses.
- Energy debt: develop a strategy to reduce the cost of energy debt, lowering bills by £45 per household.
- Network build: ensure network build is affordable and good value for money, lowering bills by £20 per household and 2% for businesses.
- System operation: move faster to modernise how the system is operated, lowering bills by £20 per household and 3% for businesses.
- Consumer-led flexibility: enable it through every available lever, lowering bills by £33 per household and 4% for businesses. The Taskforce notes this saving is spread across the other areas.
- Wholesale market: prevent excess profits, lowering bills by £60 per household and 7% for businesses.
- Targeted support: extend support to an extra 3 million households, up from 6 million today, with support increased by £250 per household. Removing levies for all businesses would support 12,000 more manufacturing businesses than current plans, the Taskforce said.
- Ministerial oversight: create a minister-led process to ensure electricity bills go down.
Levies and the Autumn Budget
Taskforce members said moving levies into general taxation is one of the few measures that can be taken immediately to bring down bills. Energy bills are predicted to rise by 16% in January following a spike in oil and gas prices caused by the war in Iran, which the Taskforce said adds urgency to the case for government intervention.
Susie Elks, coordinator of the Electricity Bills Taskforce and Senior Policy Advisor at E3G, said: “Millions of households and businesses are struggling with their energy bills because of our dependence on expensive and volatile fossil fuels. By removing levies from bills and unleashing the cheaper cost of renewables, the government can lower bills today for all households.”
Climate Global News has previously reported on E3G’s warning that gas price volatility leaves UK households exposed.
Business and supplier views
Patrick Matthewson, Senior Policy Manager at Make UK, said: “This Government’s efforts so far are commendable but too slow for businesses already struggling to manage the weight of rising energy costs. Strong action is needed immediately to support manufacturers through a difficult winter in the Autumn Budget, by removing policy costs from electricity bills, or the demand that GB Grid is trying to help may no longer exist.”
Kit Dixon, Head of Public Affairs at Good Energy, said: “Government action is long overdue. The Taskforce’s recommendations are practical, deliverable and could save the average household more than £300 a year. We urge ministers to adopt the measures quickly, and set out a clear plan for implementation. Lower bills, improved energy security and faster progress towards a cleaner energy system are all within reach if action is taken now.”
How the savings were calculated
The Taskforce said the 20% reduction is calculated against a 2025/26 baseline, using an average dual-fuel household’s electricity bill and an average across different business archetypes. The figure includes inflation to 2030.
The full methodology is set out in the report, Lowering GB Electricity Bills – Recommendations for Government, which E3G is publishing on its website.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Electricity Bills Taskforce?
It is a coalition of more than 20 energy suppliers, business representatives, consumer groups, charities, academics and policy experts. It was formed by the think tank E3G at the end of 2025 in response to rising electricity costs in the UK.
How much could the Taskforce’s proposals cut electricity bills?
The Taskforce says its package of reforms could cut household and business electricity bills by 20% by 2030. It estimates this would save the average household more than £300 a year.
What is the Taskforce asking for in the Autumn Budget?
It is calling on ministers to move all policy levies from electricity bills into general taxation. It says this would give households an immediate £150 saving and cut business electricity costs by 16%.
Why are energy bills expected to rise in January?
Energy bills are predicted to rise by 16% in January following a spike in oil and gas prices caused by the war in Iran.
How was the 20% reduction calculated?
It is calculated against a 2025/26 baseline, using an average dual-fuel household’s electricity bill and an average across different business archetypes, and includes inflation to 2030. The full methodology is in the report Lowering GB Electricity Bills – Recommendations for Government.
