评论
打印
The government organization that controls the cost of energy in Great Britain recently increased what is known as a price cap.
在英国控制能源成本的政府机构最近提高了所谓的价格上限。
The price cap is the highest amount that gas suppliers can charge for a unit of energy.
价格上限是天然气供应商对一个能源单位可以收取的最高金额。
The new, higher cost has people concerned that they may not be able to pay for their gas and electricity this winter.
新的、更高的成本让人们担心，他们可能无法在今年冬天支付天然气和电费。
Some might pay as much as $4,188 for energy next year.
一些人明年可能会为能源支付高达4188美元。
Earlier this year, the price cap was at $2,320.
今年早些时候，价格上限为2320美元。
Oil and gas prices around the world have been increasing since 2021 as economies started up again after the coronavirus pandemic.
自2021年以来，随着经济在冠状病毒大流行后重新启动，世界各地的石油和天然气价格一直在上涨。
More business activities required more fuel.
更多的商业活动需要更多的燃料。
Then, Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, creating a new energy crisis.
紧接着，俄罗斯在2月下旬入侵乌克兰，制造了一场新的能源危机。
Russia limited the amount of natural gas it sent to European countries that needed it to power factories, produce electricity and keep homes warm.
俄罗斯限制了向欧洲国家输送天然气的数量，这些国家需要俄罗斯为工厂供电、发电和为家庭取暖。
Some energy companies are charging more because they are worried that Russia might completely stop sending gas to European countries.
一些能源公司提高了收费，因为他们担心俄罗斯可能会完全停止向欧洲国家输送天然气。
And in Britain, prices are up because the country does not produce much gas or have a good way to store it.
在英国，价格上涨是因为该国生产的天然气不多，也没有很好的储存方式。
As a result, Britain must purchase gas often in a market where prices are high.
因此，英国必须经常在价格较高的市场购买天然气。
Citibank, a U.S. financial company, believes the higher energy prices will cause inflation in Britain to reach 18 percent in 2023.
美国金融公司花旗银行认为，较高的能源价格将导致英国2023年的通货膨胀率达到18%。
And the Bank of England says an economic slowdown known as a recession will start later this year.
英格兰银行称，经济衰退将于今年晚些时候开始。
Public health and private aid organizations worry that high energy prices will cause a "catastrophe" as Britons choose between keeping their homes warm and eating enough food.
公共卫生和私人援助组织担心，高昂的能源价格将引发一场 “灾难”，因为英国人将在保持室内温暖和吃饱食物之间做出选择。
As prices rise, the British government plans to give people between $450 and $1,400 to help pay for energy costs.
随着价格上涨，英国政府计划给人们450至1400美元，以帮助支付能源成本。
But the help is seen by many as not enough.
但许多人认为这种帮助是不够的。
If the government approves more money for fuel, it will probably not come until September.
如果政府批准更多的燃料资金，很可能要到9月份才能到位。
That is the time the Conservative Party will select a new leader to replace Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
届时保守党将选出一位新的领导人来接替首相鲍里斯·约翰逊。
The Labour Party says the government should increase the amount it provides for people to pay for fuel by raising taxes on energy companies.
工党说，政府应该通过提高能源公司的税收来增加为人们支付的燃料费。
However, the two politicians who are trying to become the next Prime Minister do not seem to support that idea.
然而，这两位试图成为下一任总理的政客似乎并不支持这一想法。
Giovanna Speciale leads an organization called the Southeast London Community Energy group.
乔凡娜-特蕾领导着一个名为伦敦东南部社区能源组织的组织。
It helps people pay their bills.
该组织帮助人们支付账单。
She said the money will help but it is only a short-term solution to a bigger problem with Britain's energy system.
她说，这笔钱会有所帮助，但这只是英国能源系统这样一个更大问题的短期解决方案。
Because the system is privately run, she said, "there's very little that the government can do to intervene in this."
她说，因为这个系统是私人运营的，“政府对此几乎无能为力。”
Other European countries are seeing higher energy costs, but not as high.
其他欧洲国家的能源成本也在上涨，但没有那么高。
In France, gas prices are capped at 2021 levels.
在法国，天然气价格上限为2021年的水平。
In Germany, prices are up by 38 percent since last year.
在德国，价格自去年以来上涨了38%。
However, the government is reducing some taxes, which will make it easier for the average person to buy gas.
然而，政府正在降低一些税收，这将减少普通人购买汽油的一些负担。
In Italy, prices are going up, but the government recently approved over $8 billion to help people pay their energy bills.
在意大利，价格正在上涨，但政府最近批准了超过80亿美元的资金来帮助人们支付能源账单。
I'm Dan Friedell.
我是丹 · 弗里德尔。
