No10 admits help with energy bills for businesses could take weeks - and be backdated

The program "will support businesses with their October energy bills," but it could involve "backdating if necessary," the carrier said. word of the Prime Minister

Businesses have been kept in the dark about taking charge of their energy bills (

Image: Getty Images/Vetta)

Afflicted businesses may have to wait several weeks for help with their energy bills and then have it backdated, Downing Street admitted today.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman has denied reports that the assistance will not be available until November, saying it will apply from next month and that "further details" will be worked out next week.

But while the program will “support businesses with their October energy bills,” it will involve “backdating where necessary,” the spokesperson admitted.

Liz Truss unveiled her energy bill support package last week, but the huge fiscal intervention was immediately overshadowed by news of the Queen's death later that day.

The 'Energy Bill Guarantee' freezes a typical household's bills at £2,500 a year for two years from 1 October, replacing the energy price cap managed by the Regulator Ofgem.

Energy bills soared with soaring wholesale gas prices in the wake of Covid and the war in Ukraine

The new Prime Minister has also promised to help businesses and other organizations not covered by the price cap, such as schools and hospitals.

But companies have been left in the dark about what support they will get, which government sources say is more difficult to implement.

Downing Street said the delay was not because of the Queen's death and period of mourning, but because "we need to build a whole new system to provide this support".

The spokesperson insisted that talks are underway on giving "equivalent support" to businesses versus households, which have been given an exact cap on their unit rates from 1 October.

But he was unable to give specific details on what business support will look like or how prices will be capped or restricted, saying it won't arrive until next week. ..