Why are we paying energy companies a fortune when my mum's heating is off again?

So, how much profit did the energy giants make last year while people like me are choosing between heating and eating? It’s honestly a joke. They get bailed out, we get told to wear jumpers. This new policy is simple: cap their profits at a reasonable amount, say 5% above operating costs, and use the excess to create an emergency energy fund for vulnerable households and those on Carer's Allowance. We’re talking about keeping people alive, not funding their third yacht.

This fund would be directly managed, not handed over to some faceless corporation. It would cover essential heating bills, provide grants for energy efficiency upgrades – think proper insulation, not just more draught excluders – and ensure a baseline supply so no one has to face the cold. It's about basic dignity. My mum can’t tell me she’s cold, so I have to constantly worry.