Keir Starmer will announce household support measures today, primarily targeting heating oil users who aren't protected by the energy price cap. Heating oil costs represent tomorrow's problem for most UK households as energy prices rise due to supply constraints from recent conflicts. The UK government faces pressure to address increasing energy costs while avoiding the policy mistakes of 2022.

The 2022 energy price guarantee receives criticism as an expensive policy that increased government debt without most households noticing. Analysts prefer direct cash transfers to indirect subsidies, allowing consumers choice in responding to price signals. Some recipients would use funds for bills, while others might invest in energy-efficient technologies, creating market competition rather than masking true energy costs.

Labour's energy policy includes making plug-in solar panels available for purchase, encouraging reduced energy consumption rather than maintaining usage patterns. Starmer's government enters this challenge with an advantage over Truss's administration—arriving during warmer months, providing more time to prepare a better energy price response. The UK must balance protecting households from energy poverty while incentivizing sustainable consumption habits.