hidden taxes to combat climate change

[drummer]

By Nicky Burridge, Press Association
Tuesday, 29 June 2010

Households are typically being charged more than £80 a year in hidden taxes to help combat the impact of climate change, research suggested today.

The average household pays £84 a year in hidden taxes on their energy bills and the figure looks set to rise, according to price comparison website uSwitch.com.

The group warned that mounting pressures could see these taxes double during the coming 10 years to reach £176 a year.

Environmental levies such as the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target, the Community Energy Saving Programme and the Renewables Obligation currently make up 7% of energy bills.

But the group said policies launched under the previous government are expected to add further taxes worth 6% of gas and electricity bills during the coming 10 years, bringing the total to £156 a year.

The Treasury is also thought to be considering an additional levy to electricity bills, which would add a further £10 to £20.

Many people are unhappy about the environmental levies, with 44% saying the commitment towards cutting carbon emissions and moving to greener energy sources has to be balanced with the impact on people's fuel bills.

Three out of 10 people also thought that the cost should be shared by the Government, industry, business and consumers.

Ann Robinson, director of consumer policy at uSwitch.com, said: "Environmental levies are going to account for a growing and substantial part of our bills and will in turn play a growing and substantial part in pushing the cost of our energy up.

"If consumers are to be expected to meet these costs then there has to be clarity over what these hidden taxes are for, a cap set on how much consumers will end up paying and transparency over how the levies are being applied.

"If the levies are applied proportionately they will act as an incentive for households to cut their energy consumption. If not, then the industry will be sending out a very mixed message to consumers."

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment...13358.html

[FastTadpole]

Good compilation.

This article fails to identify another hidden tax called cronyism that manifest in the form of tax increases to joe taxpayer due to subsides, low interest loans (that also suck up credit), grants, stimulus packages and tax breaks. They also sell off land and grant sweetheart deals, sometimes exclusive to provide green power to select companies big and small.

I have written extensively about the hidden green tax of government subsidies in my province and country. Fact is the carbon tax is already here.

Green Subsidies and Grants in Canada - $3.6B to Big Oil CCS; $10B to Samsung Wind
http://concen.org/forum/showthread.php?t...hlight=CCS