Truss, who will be appointed by the Queen today, is set to curb the cost of natural gas used for electricity and heating. This would effectively commit the taxpayer to paying Britain’s energy bills beyond a certain level to stop widespread hardship and bankruptcies. The freeze will apply to both households and businesses. Pubs and restaurants have been told they face financial ruin because they have no protection against rising energy prices. Some businesses face a sevenfold increase. Household energy bills are capped at £1,971 a year, rising to £3,549 from 1 October. The cap is due to be revised in January and