[ti:Britain Prepares for High Winter Heating and Electricity Costs] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:00.04]The government organization [00:02.12]that controls the cost of energy in Great Britain [00:05.40]recently increased what is known as a price cap. [00:09.04]The price cap is the highest amount [00:12.00]that gas suppliers can charge for a unit of energy. [00:17.84]The new, higher cost has people concerned [00:21.92]that they may not be able to pay [00:24.16]for their gas and electricity this winter. [00:27.00]Some might pay as much as $4,188 for energy next year. [00:34.72]Earlier this year, the price cap was at $2,320. [00:42.60]Oil and gas prices around the world [00:46.40]have been increasing since 2021 as economies [00:51.48]started up again after the coronavirus pandemic. [00:55.16]More business activities required more fuel. [00:59.64]Then, Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, [01:04.52]creating a new energy crisis. [01:07.64]Russia limited the amount of natural gas [01:10.80]it sent to European countries that needed it to power factories, [01:15.32]produce electricity and keep homes warm. [01:19.40]Some energy companies are charging more because they are worried [01:23.76]that Russia might completely stop sending gas to European countries. [01:28.56]And in Britain, prices are up [01:31.80]because the country does not produce much gas [01:34.84]or have a good way to store it. [01:37.36]As a result, Britain must purchase gas often [01:41.96]in a market where prices are high. [01:45.68]Citibank, a U.S. financial company, [01:49.08]believes the higher energy prices will cause inflation in Britain [01:54.12]to reach 18 percent in 2023. [01:58.84]And the Bank of England says an economic slowdown [02:02.76]known as a recession will start later this year. [02:08.08]Public health and private aid organizations [02:10.80]worry that high energy prices will cause a "catastrophe" [02:15.88]as Britons choose between keeping their homes warm [02:19.40]and eating enough food. [02:22.20]As prices rise, the British government plans to give people [02:26.92]between $450 and $1,400 to help pay for energy costs. [02:35.88]But the help is seen by many as not enough. [02:39.80]If the government approves more money for fuel, [02:43.80]it will probably not come until September. [02:46.68]That is the time the Conservative Party [02:50.04]will select a new leader to replace [02:52.56]Prime Minister Boris Johnson. [02:55.20]The Labour Party says the government [02:58.36]should increase the amount it provides for people [03:01.32]to pay for fuel by raising taxes on energy companies. [03:06.44]However, the two politicians [03:09.64]who are trying to become the next Prime Minister [03:12.80]do not seem to support that idea. [03:17.08]Giovanna Speciale leads an organization [03:21.00]called the Southeast London Community Energy group. [03:24.08]It helps people pay their bills. [03:26.88]She said the money will help but it is only a short-term solution [03:32.32]to a bigger problem with Britain's energy system. [03:37.08]Because the system is privately run, she said, [03:40.48]"there's very little that the government can do to intervene in this." [03:46.08]Other European countries are seeing [03:48.28]higher energy costs, but not as high. [03:52.20]In France, gas prices are capped at 2021 levels. [03:58.48]In Germany, prices are up by 38 percent since last year. [04:04.40]However, the government is reducing some taxes, [04:08.72]which will make it easier for the average person to buy gas. [04:13.64]In Italy, prices are going up, [04:16.92]but the government recently approved over $8 billion [04:21.32]to help people pay their energy bills. [04:25.12]I'm Dan Friedell. 更多听力请访问51VOA.COM