UK Conservatives Plan £165 Annual Energy Bill Cut by Scrapping Carbon Tax, Wind Subsidies

The Conservative Party in the UK has pledged to reduce household energy bills by approximately £165 annually by scrapping the carbon tax on electricity generation and abolishing subsidies for wind farms, which they claim add 20% to electricity costs. Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho criticized current carbon taxes for inflating electricity prices and argued that since gas will be needed for power generation for years, the tax only adds unnecessary costs. The Conservatives also plan to dismantle Great British Energy and reverse the Climate Change Act, signaling a shift away from previous net zero policies championed by former leaders. They contend that wind farm subsidies, introduced by Ed Miliband in 2008, unfairly increase profits for wind and solar farm owners at the expense of consumers. This policy contrasts with Labour's promise to cut bills by £300 through decarbonization and Reform UK's more ambitious claim of £1,000 savings by scrapping net zero policies. The Conservative leadership, under Kemi Badenoch, is positioning these proposals as credible cost-saving measures to appeal to voters ahead of elections.