Energy bills for residents of a Newcastle housing estate have been frozen by the council.
Those living at the Byker Wall Estate had received refunds totalling £56,000 last year, after being charged over £200 each month for energy bills on a district heat network (DHN) owned by Newcastle City Council.
The system sees that residents are charged a fixed rate for bills, instead of a variable fee depending on how much energy is used.
However, the council provided the refunds that amounted to roughly £646.49 per household following a campaign from homeowners that sought to reduce the costs.
To support the financial wellbeing of residents, the council has also confirmed that a freeze on bills has been implemented this year.
A council spokesperson said: ‘While infrastructure costs can vary year to year due to inflation and planned maintenance, the energy charge makes up the largest proportion of residents' bills and is most affected by national energy prices, particularly gas’.
They added: ‘To provide stability and certainty for residents during ongoing cost-of-living pressures, energy bills have therefore been frozen for this year. The council does not make a profit from the heat network and only recovers the costs of operating and maintaining it.’
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