Households are paying hundreds of pounds a year more on average than before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 started the energy crisis. Bills have gone up by about 70% compared with the pre-crisis norm, according to industry data.

That means unpaid bills and charges have shot up. Energy UK estimates total debt to have collectively risen to £6bn, with an expectation of it to increase to about £7bn by the end of the year.

The average billpayer in debt, without a payment plan, owed £3,500, it said.

The trade body has called for a flexible discounted tariff for those most in need, funded by taxation. That is supported by many debt charities.

“Without urgent intervention – namely a national social tariff and implementation of the long-awaited debt write off scheme from Ofgem – we expect this [debt] figure to rise in the coming months, and with that see an increase in the number of people coming to us for help with energy bills,” said Emily Whitford, senior public policy advocate at StepChange.

The Trades Union Congress has called for a windfall tax on bank profits to be used to reduce energy bills.

The government is cutting VAT from electricity bills in October, which should knock about £50 off a typical annual bill, and some policy costs were cancelled or shifted in April, but ministers say there is more to do.

Suppliers offer a host of support schemes to anyone struggling to pay, or who is likely to find it difficult.

Energy UK has a list of these schemes, external. But it stresses that companies can often only help if you get in touch with your supplier to tell them you are unable to pay.

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Singapore requires foreign companies to have at least one resident director; nominee arrangements are common but involve legal liabilities and governance considerations, especially during early-stage regional expansion.

Singapore’s Residency Requirement for Companies

Singapore mandates that every locally incorporated company must have at least one director who is ordinarily resident in the country. This rule applies universally, whether the company is active, dormant, generating revenue, or wholly foreign-owned. For foreign investors without local management, this requirement impacts various processes such as company incorporation, licensing, banking setup, and initial commercial activities, influencing timelines and operational planning.

Timing Challenges and Nominee Arrangements

Company registration in Singapore can often be completed within a few days, but securing Employment Pass approval may take several weeks. During this interim, foreign companies frequently use nominee arrangements to facilitate leasing, supplier contracts, payroll, and banking arrangements. These arrangements enable operational continuity and regional invoicing while the company’s infrastructure is still being established.

The Role and Risks of Nominee Directors

Singapore law allows the use of nominee directors, commonly adopted by foreign firms during early expansion phases. However, nominee directors are not passive placeholders—they hold legal responsibilities and fiduciary duties as directors, regardless of private side agreements. Properly structured governance involves separating statutory responsibilities from operational control, ensuring that decision-making power remains with the beneficial owner through documented arrangements.

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Hidden door handles are widely used in modern cars in China, with around 60% of the top 100 best-selling new energy vehicles, including EVs and hybrids, having them.

The minimalist design gives vehicles a “sleek look and reduces wind drag” but can be confusing to use, car industry analyst Stephen Dyer from consultancy AlixPartners told the BBC.

“Even I often find it difficult to locate the switch to open the door from the inside of an unfamiliar vehicle,” said Dyer, who is based in Shanghai.

But beyond their usability, the handles have been blamed for endangering the lives of drivers and passengers.

Electronically powered door handles became an industry trend, but raised “real safety concerns” when doors failed to open promptly, delaying rescue efforts after accidents, said Nanyang Technological University associate professor Lyu Chen.

“A door handle may seem simple, but it becomes safety-critical in the seconds after a crash,” Chen said.

Chinese carmaker Xiaomi faced intense scrutiny following two fatal crashes in 2025 involving its SU7 model, when suspected electrical failures allegedly trapped occupants.

One of the incidents took place on a highway in Tongling city, eastern China, killing three people, according to regional news coverage cited by state-controlled media Global Times.

Relatives of the victims said the passengers were stuck in the car as the vehicle’s doors could not be unlocked after the collision, the outlet said.