‘Don’t Pay’ bills storm reaches Bristol

A grassroots movement urging consumers to go on strike from paying their bills is gathering pace in Bristol.

Events, talks and leafleting are taking place in the city as part of Don’t Pay UK – a national campaign encouraging people to cancel their energy payments en masse in protest of rocketing fuel costs and to demand them to be reduced to an affordable level.

The action has been backed by more than 180,000 supporters since mid-June.

It says it will “take action” if one million people sign up to the mass non-payment of energy bills by October 1 – when the new price cap will come into effect – and if the government fails to “adequately address the crisis”.

Recent analysis named Bristol as the UK city with the fourth highest search interest in Don’t Pay UK after Sheffield, Leeds and Birmingham.

The campaign, which is run by a group of activists operating anonymously, comes as energy bills spiral, the cost of living crisis deepens and a growing number of people struggle to afford essentials like central heating.

Leafleting? Door Knocking? Chatting to your mates about #dontpay? This thread is essential read. https://t.co/t5aPdImp0v

— Don’t Pay Bristol (@dontpaybristol) September 17, 2022

The national campaign has three demands:

• Reverse the energy price cap to April 2021 level
• End all enforcement of prepayment metres, which are often used by the poorest but result in higher tariffs
• No-one is cold this winter, via an emergency social energy tariff which would mean those on lower incomes pay a lower unit price for energy than wealthier people

The idea is to pressure the government to enforce a fair price and withhold payment as a last resort.

Despite the momentum building for the movement, energy regulator Ofgem as well as some charities have warned that not paying energy bills could lead to serious consequences, including harming an individual’s credit score and causing personal debt problems.

A government spokeswoman criticised the campaign for its “highly irresponsible messaging, which ultimately will only push up prices for everyone else and affect personal credit ratings”.

#Bristol meeting: #CostOfLivingCrises + what to do!?
Panel speakers incl: @dontpaybristol @eiecampaign @BristolEnergyNw & former anti-poll tax activist.
Free event – info & registration: https://t.co/FVbD36PlSU pic.twitter.com/4HxJCebwCX

— Alternative Bristol ? (@Alt_Bristol_) September 14, 2022

Don’t Pay Bristol is one of a number of protests staged against the soaring cost of living in the UK. In Bristol and beyond, barristers, rail staff, care and postal workers have taken industrial action for improved pay and conditions.

On Friday, Don’t Pay are co-hosting an open evening at the Bristol Central Quaker Meeting House where they will be joined by Bristol Energy Network and other national cost of living campaign Enough is Enough.

On Tuesday, Enough is Enough launches its campaign to beat the cost of living crisis in Bristol – with speakers from Acorn, University College Union and Communication Workers’ Union.

You can register for the free event, which is BSL interpreted, here.

Main photo: Don’t Pay Bristol

Read next:

• The invisible gap: How the cost of living crisis is affecting people in Bristol
• Bristol campaign to highlight cost of childcare crisis
• Communal ‘warm places’ to be set up across Bristol amid cost of living crisis

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