The International Energy Agency’s head, Fatih Birol, has urged families to prepare for a potential increase in energy bills this winter.
He cautioned that a combination of dropping temperatures and a rapid rebound in the Chinese economy might lead to a rise in gas prices, further burdening consumers.
Birol suggested that to prevent the necessity of subsidies for bills, governments should encourage energy conservation practices and promote renewable energy sources.
Energy bills, which had significantly increased due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, are currently on the decline as temperatures rise. However, Birol doesn’t exclude the possibility of a fresh surge in gas prices in the upcoming winter.
Speaking on the BBC’s Today programme, he criticized many European governments for their “strategic mistakes”, which included overdependence on Russian energy and prioritizing short-term commercial decisions, leading to their current predicament.
